The bet365 Ultimate Celebration of British Horseracing on Saturday 28th April at Sandown Park Racecourse is one of the pinnacle racedays in the calendar and is unique in that both Flat and Jump racing are staged during the day along with an equine parade to celebrate the Champions of the closing season.
The parade will include the Paul Nicholls trained Neptune Collonges, winner of the 2012 John Smith's Grand National, Big Buck's who at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival made history by winning 4 consecutive Ladbrokes World Hurdle's. He also confirmed his status as the greatest staying hurdler in history, by winning at Aintree earlier this month, taking his winning streak to 17 wins on the trot. Kauto Star, who was the first horse to regain the Betfred Gold Cup and is the only horse to have won the King George VI Chase five times, as well as being the first to win it in four consecutive seasons and stable mate Rock On Ruby who won the Stan James Champion Hurdle, will also be parading on the day.
Nicky Henderson will be parading Bob's Worth, winner of the 2012 RSA Chase and 2011 Albert Bartlett Hurdle, Sprinter Sacre, winner of the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase and the John Smith's Maghull Novices' Chase 2012, Finian's Rainbow, winner of the sportingbet.com Queen Mothers Champion Chase and the John Smith's Melling Chase 2012. Also parading from Nicky's yard is Riverside Theatre winner of the Ryanair Chase and owned by TV celebrity James Nesbitt and Simonsig, winner of the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle and John Smith's Mersey Novices' Hurdle 2012.
Following the Parade of Equine Champions will be The Sandown Park Awards at 12.45pm. Nick Luck and Sky Sport's Ed Chamberlin will host the awards with Olympian athletes, Dame Kelly Holmes and cyclist Wendy Houvenaghel, actors Jenny Agutter and Dame Judi Dench presenting the awards.
The 2012 Sandown Park Awards will be as follows:
2011 Charles Owen Pony Racing Champion 138cm, Charlotte Greenway2011 Charles Owen Pony Racing Champion 148cm, Ned Curtis
Champion Jockey presented by Jenny AgutterChampion Conditional Jockey presented by the PJA
Champion Trainer presented by Dame Kelly HolmesChampion Owner presented by Dame Judi Dench
Sandown Park Special Award presented by Sandown Park Managing Director David MackinnonThe People's Jumps Season Award with Channel 4, presented by Channel 4's John Francome and a member of public who voted
Jumps Horse of the Year Award with Racing Post presented by Dame Kelly Holmes