NIGHT TIME DANNY wins the Coral Champion Stakes Final from Gymstar Elusive (t6)
Romford 22nd October 2021
Photo: © Steve Nash

“Yes I backed him. No I can’t remember what price. It might have been 22-1. I’ll text you”

Considering it was the highlight of a 25 year career in dogs, Steve ‘Laid Horizontal’ Rayner took Night Time Danny’s Coral Champion Stakes victory like a man who had breakfasted on beta-blockers. The race itself, it could hardly have been more exciting. . .

Even though the big brindle was running over a distance clearly well short of his optimum, no one can surely doubt that the winner deserved his victory and franked the St.Leger form when he was must a length and a quarter behind Space Time when she set a new Perry Barr 710m record.

Having started out as a kennel hand with Mick Large, Steve’s previous racing highlight was arguably being part of the successful Towcester Supertrack team of 2015.

But if dogs really are like their owners, then Night Time Danny and his trainer seem well matched.

Steve said: “I have all the litter and if you take the rest of them to the track, you would never be able to drag them off it. Danny’s just not bothered. Let him off in a field and he stands next to you. In fact the only way I can get him to gallop is by taking his little toy with him and leaving it at one end and letting him off to go and fetch it. He is just the coolest character in the kennel.”

Steve has around 30 on the kennel strength at Towcester and Danny’s next open race commitment will be back at the track where he started out in A4 company before switching to six bends.

Steve said: “I am hoping to run him in the Hunt Cup over the 712m in November. But I haven’t got a clue beyond that; I’ve looked at the Calendar and there is nothing else to go for.”

NIGHT TIME DANNY. Champion Stakes winner Romford 22nd October 2021 Photo: © Steve Nash

NIGHT TIME DANNY’s owner/trainer Steve Rayner lifts the Champion Stakes Cup as wife Janice receives trophy from Romford GM Karen McMillan (right). Kennelhand Lea Cairns looks after the winner and the Rayners’ granddaughter Ruby holds the cheque. Romford 22nd October 2021 Photo: © Steve Nash

WARZONE TOM on his way to a sizzling 34.76 in the Champion Stakes Plate Romford 22nd October 2021 Photo: © Steve Nash

BLUEBERRY BULLET. Mitch Millward Marathon winner. Romford 22nd October 2021 Photo: © Steve Nash

Name the winner. Champion Stakes Standard Final run up: L-R. Right Joe (t6), Ayle Blake (t5), Some Pepperoni (t3), Lylas Boy (t2) and…winner Antigua Socks (t1 on rail). Romford 22nd October 2021 Photo: © Steve Nash