Henley low bailiff Alistair Price and Tanworth-in-Arden trainer Rob Summers hoping Atlantic Storm makes Stratford Racecourse history
ATLANTIC Storm will be looking to join an elite group of horses to have won five times at Stratford Racecourse next week.
The ten-year-old, owned by Henley low bailiff Alistair Price and trained by Tanworth-in-Arden handler Rob Summers, already has four wins at Stratford (16th May 2021, 7th September 2019, 2nd July 2019 and 20th October 2018).
Another success on Tuesday in the Watch On Racing TV Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 3) over two miles and 213 yards at 6.50pm would see him enter the course’s history books.
Hatcher, Genuine Article and Stately Home II are the only horses to have recorded five wins at Stratford according to the Racing Post’s online statistics which date back to 1988.
Atlantic Storm came close to joining that group in May but a broken girth meant he finished behind Larch Hill.
Summers told the Herald: “The jockey (Charlie Hammond) felt Atlantic Storm should have won that day and won easily. Unfortunately the girth broke and the saddle ended up being behind the back legs.
“Charlie could not ride him three out just in case he slipped off. It would be fantastic if Atlantic Storm could win again because he’s owned and trained by local people.
“I’m confident Atlantic Storm has the ability to win again but it’ll be much tougher for him in the Class 3 race we’ve entered him in.
“After his win at Southwell he’s been put up 5lb so he’ll be running off 105lb. Atlantic Storm loves Stratford and I’m sure he’ll run his heart out, it’s whether the class of the horses he’ll come up against will tell but we’ll see on the day.”
Price added: “I’m one of the luckiest owners in the country as Atlantic Storm has run over 40 times, won five races and placed 17 times, so he’s paid for himself.
“I would be over the moon if Atlantic Storm won on Tuesday. It’s our local course, we know all the people there and we love Stratford.
“It would be emotionally phenomenal to see Atlantic Storm win a fifth time at the course.”
Price purchased Atlantic Storm for £4,500 at a selling race in October 2018 and he has proved to be a worthy investment having won around £30,000 in prize money since then.
Summers believes Atlantic Storm has one or two more years left in him before he stops racing.
After that, he’s confident Atlantic Storm will make a good eventer or showjumper. “We’re not hard on him, we don’t gallop him all the time,” added Summers.
“He will tell us when he’s no longer capable of racing but even when he’s finished racing, he’s a big horse so I’m sure he’d make a good showjumper or eventer – he’ll have another job after racing.”
