Towcester tales: five memorable moments at the Northamptonshire course

Towcester's closure was confirmed on Monday. The track has staged some memorable races over the years and here are five key moments

McCoy hits magic 4,000

There was a landmark day for AP McCoy at Towcester in November 2013 when victory on Mountain Tunes took the rider’s tally to 4,000 winners.

In the green and gold colours of owner JP McManus, McCoy produced the Jonjo O’Neill-trained four-year-old in typically timely fashion, powering home up the punishing hill to deny Kris Spin and secure history for the 20-time champion jump jockey.

Celebrations followed with McManus buying everyone at the track a drink and there was a big crowd in attendance to witness McCoy secure the milestone success.

Champion Collier returns

Champion Hurdle hero Collier Bay was back in action for the first since his Cheltenham heroics when beating Relkeel in a thrilling three-runner event at the track in February 1997.

Victory in the Champion Hurdle trial at Towcester teed up the Jim Old-trained stable star for a back-to-back bid the following month, but he was pulled up behind Make A Stand.

Collier Bay: won a Champion Hurdle trial at Towcester in 1997Credit: Dan Abraham

Relkeel relished a stiff finish but was denied by three-quarters of a length, going on to win three editions of the Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham – now named the International Hurdle – in a high-quality hurdling career.

Race voided after rule change

There was a 'first of its kind' in March 2011 when a 2m novice chase at Towcester was declared void for the first time since remounting was banned.

The drama went all the way to the last fence when favourite Identity Parade slowed into the fence, attempted to clear it and unseated the hapless Adrian Lane.

In the process Identity Parade hampered the only remaining runner – Radharc Na Mara – who unseated Peter Toole.

Double century up for Scu

Peter Scudamore became the first jump jockey to ride 200 winners in a season when successful on Gay Moore at the course in April 1989.

The Michael Robinson-trained Gay Moore was the third leg of a memorable 648-1 four-timer for Scudamore, who was well on the way to his fourth of seven consecutive championships.

Towcester: stiff uphill finish led to many thrilling finishesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Scudamore’s other winners on the evening came on Martin Pipe’s Old Kilpatrick, the Charlie Brooks-trained Canford Palm and the Nick Gaselee-trained Market Forces.

Treble up for Curley coup

A memorable coup came to fruition at Towcester in May 2010 when Jeu De Roseau completed a treble to savour for Barney Curley.

Curley enjoyed victories with Agapanthus at Brighton and Savaronola at Wolverhampton, and despite Sommersturm being beaten later on the all-weather card, there was still reason to celebrate with Jeu De Roseau winning on debut for Chris Grant.

Had Sommersturm scored, Curley would have landed a £20 million coup, although it was estimated he won a seven-figure sum with the three winners.

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