Sherwood records 1,000th winner

Trainer Oliver Sherwood reached a notable landmark at Chepstow as he sent out the 1,000th winner of his career in the shape of Financial Climate.

Sent off the 5-2 favourite, the Thomas Garner-ridden eight-year-old got home by a head in the All Free Bets At thebookiesoffers.co.uk Handicap Chase.

Upper Lambourn-based Sherwood said: "It's a special day, I don't think I'll be getting to 2,000!

"My first winner was at Newbury, ridden by my brother, Mr S Sherwood as he was then.

"I've had some really good horses, and it's nice to have some good horses to go to war with this season.

"I love the highs, I don't like the lows - I still hate having to tell owners their horse has got a tendon injury, I can't stand that but that's the nature of the game.

"The intensity of training is much more different now to when I started, courtesy of a certain west country trainer named (Martin) Pipe, he revolutionised training methods and we've all had to catch up.

"If you don't raise the bar or join them you sink - a couple of times we got close to sinking but luckily through very loyal owners we got back and got some really nice horses and it's onwards and upwards.

"The professionalism of jockeys now is just unbelievable compared to when I started as a budding amateur.

"It's been a great 30 years and long may it continue."

A major part of Sherwood's resurgence has been Many Clouds, winner of the Hennessy and a leading contender for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

He said: "He's had a very quiet 10 days, we're stepping him up and fingers crossed he gets there in one piece.

"His confidence is sky high and that's really important."