The Racing UK Club Day took place on Saturday in the Ascot Pavilion with over 900 members travelling from far and wide to take part in their biggest day of the year.

As MC for the day, The Wine Tipster began by introducing Aidan Coleman who talked through his 5 rides for the day. His least fancied ride was Forthefunofit in the 4.10pm race as he returned to hurdles for the first time in ages following a run of poor form. He not only won but returned at 20-1, the biggest price of the day! It also happened to be the Racing UK Club Day Today Handicap Hurdle.

The Wine Tipster also marked the card for the day along with Tom Stanley from Racing UK. They both highlighted Cue Card at 4-9 in the Betfair Ascot Chase who now heads to the Cheltenham Gold Cup with an outstanding chance following the sad defection of his stablemate Thistlecrack with a tendon injury. He also backed Tenor Nivernais in the 2.25 who won by 30 lengths which featured in his Racing Plus column. His nap of the day in Racing Plus was Divine Spear who finished 2nd in the 3pm race following a very exciting finish. Divine Spear was backed down from 12-1 on the day so he still paid each-way backers.

Early in the day, the names of four members were picked out of a hat and given the chance to judge the best turned out horse in the Racing UK Club Day Today Handicap Hurdle and to present the winning team of Forthefunofit with their trophies

For the first time, professional wine and champagne expert and racing pundit, Neil Phillips, The Wine Tipster presented two masterclasses featuring four different wines from Bibendum Wines. The first, after the first race, was a focus on Australia with highlights including Tim Adams Fairfield Semillon which was a great introduction to Semillon for many alongside his Riesling. The Diamond Valley Chardonnay from the Yarra Valley proved a great reminder of excellent Chardonnay from Australia.
The Rosé masterclass took place after the third race with the Operetto Garganega Pinot Grigio Blush a favourite as well as Château Leoube showing its perennial popularity. There were so many questions that the masterclass had to pause so that the members didn’t miss the 3pm race!

It was a fantastic and busy day. The Wine Tipster managed to fit in a piece for Ascot TV highlighting Yering Station Little Yering Shiraz Viognier and Château Leoube Rosé. He was also interviewed by racing broadcaster, Rupert Bell for Ascot TV and Tim Dellor and Sasha Thorbek-Hooper from BBC Berkshire.

The Racing UK Club Day was a great success blessed with fantastic weather and gripping racing. It also saw the launch of the new menu in the Parade Ring and Panoramic Restaurants as well as the new fine wine list.

Jockey Club Catering spent the day illustrating the diversity and quality of its offering at the fifteen Jockey Club racecourses around England at their Showcase Day held at Epsom Racecourse last week. The day aims to promote and educate, highlighting new innovations in all aspects of the racecourses to members of the Jockey Club Racecourses and sponsors and guests.

The Jockey Club Catering teams from each of the racecourses presented their wares showcasing wonderful concepts including the Sensory Garden, the local larder including cheeses from producers all near to a local racecourse and the new exciting retail concepts. This included a new Prosecco Bar in conjunction with Bisol and Bibendum with the following Proseccos on taste: Belstar Prosecco DOC Brut, Jeio Prosecco Superiore di Valdobbiadene DOCG Brut and Cru Vigneti del Fol Prosecco Superiore di Valdobbiadene DOCG Extra Dry. In addition, there was a stunning fountain filled by Magnums of Moët et Chandon at the evening event.

As MC for the day, The Wine Tipster presented the Jockey Club Catering Wine List, which highlights the best of British in addition to a stunning selection of New and Old World Wines.

There was an intense and exciting Ready, Steady Cook Competition between the four Jockey Club teams of London, East, West and North. In the half an hour allotted the teams produced a broad array of beautifully produced dishes, with no previous knowledge of the ingredients available. The London team just came out on top in a very tight and entertaining competition.

One of the highlights of the day was the College Chefs Competition where 3 teams of 6 young chefs from South Thames Catering College were challenged to create a grazing menu consisting of 2 starters (1 veggie), 2 mains (1 veggie), 1 dessert, to serve a total of 50 guests. The winners were invited up on stage to receive a voucher each as well as a copy of Michel Roux Jr’s latest book, The French Kitchen. These young stars will also have the opportunity to work at Epsom in the near future.Albert and Michel Roux Jr have a long standing association with Jockey Club Catering and The Wine Tipster was given the opportunity to chat with them after the competition. He posed many questions delving into their interest in racing as well as top advice for aspiring chefs and trends in the food they are cooking both at the racecourse restaurants, their own restaurants and at home. The Wine Tipster was hoping for an invitation to Sunday lunch! It was wonderful to part of such a collaborative and exciting day reinforcing the joys of a day out at the races. You can enjoy a flavour of the day in this fantastic video

This weekend sees the start of the 2016/17 jump season at Cheltenham after the summer break where we can look forward to16 exciting days of top class Jump racing over the season. Leading horses, jockeys and trainers return to the spiritual Home of Jump racing for The Showcase meeting with 7 races on each day.

In addition to the excitement of the racing, you can enjoy a wide variety of experiences at the racecourse. The Wine Tipster has worked with Bibendum Wines and The Jockey Club Catering team, led by General Manager Phil Roberts, to compile a wine list to suit all palates and to match with the various dishes served around the racecourse.
There has never been a better time to try British wines so to celebrate this, look out for ‘Best of British’ still and sparkling wines on the list. Come racing and enjoy the following wines;

Nyetimber Classic Cuvée NV, Sussex, England
Nyetimber is a pioneer of English sparkling wine with its earliest mentions being recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. They now own 170 hectares of vineyards in Hampshire and Sussex which are devoted to the classic trio of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The Classic Cuvée shows all the elegance and refinement you would expect, with delicate citrus, fresh mineral, and lifted white blossom notes.

Bolney Estate Foxhole Vineyard Pinot Gris, Sussex, England
The Bolney Estate was established in 1972 with 3 acres of vines. Nowadays, the estate spans 39 acres and is one of the few wineries in England specialising in red wine. The founders were inspired by the potential to create delicate red wines similar to those from New Zealand. Their work has helped to cement England’s position as a country capable of producing quality wines consistently. Current winemaker, Samantha Linter took over in the 90s and since then the estate has gone from strength to strength. This is a refreshingly zesty white wine with fragrant aromas of elderflower, jasmine and pear.

Chapel Down English Rosé, England, Kent
Chapel Down produces a world-class range of sparkling and still wines, together with the award-winning range of Curious beers & cider. It is this iconic chalk soil, the same as that of Champagne – just 90 miles to the south, coupled with our cool climate that enables them to produce truly world-class sparkling wines, as well as aromatic white wines and elegant light red wines from grapes such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Bacchus.
This wine has lovely aromas of a British summer pudding, ripe juicy summer fruits. Crisp and fresh, with flavours of rhubarb compote and rosehip. An easy drinking wine to share with your friends and family.

See you there!