Nathan Hunt chasing inaugural Monmore Open Championship

Trainer Nathan Hunt is full of excitement as he targets glory in the inaugural Monmore Open Championship.

The competition is now three weeks old, with the event culminating on June 11 and featuring two separate leagues - one for Monmore‑based trainers and one for visiting handlers.

The top trainer in each league at the end of the nine weeks will be awarded a cool £2,500, second will get £1,000 and third £500.

Hunt sits second in the home league on 129 points after having three winners on Thursday night – behind first-placed Kim Billingham-Hine (161) and ahead of Richie Taberner (109) in third.

“It’s a great initiative and has generated extra buzz and excitement, both for trainers here at Monmore and those from other tracks,” said Hunt. “We’ve made a strong start which I’m pleased with and, hopefully, we can keep up the momentum over the coming weeks.

“It’d be lovely to take spot and that’s what we’re targeting, although there’ll be strong competition with Kim and Richie both doing well so far.

“It’s a nice bit of preparation as well for the Trainers’ Judgment Night which we’re proud to be a part of again. Success in both would be fantastic.”

Points are awarded in each race of the Monmore Open Championship using the established Trainers’ Judgement Night format of 10 points for first, seven points for second, five points for third, three points for fourth, two points for fifth and a point for sixth.

Hunt scored 39 points on Thursday thanks in no small part to wins for Bretons Girl, Anglesey Milo and Cascabel.

Billingham-Hine had two victors in Bandit Paddy and Newinn Bachelor as she racked up 51 points on the evening.

Hunt will do battle in the Judgment Night, now known as the David Lipsey Trophy, at Monmore on Thursday June 18 having been among the top six Open trainers for all of 2025.

He finished as runner-up to Mark Wallis in last year’s event at Perry Barr.