A Summer's Day Done Right
There's something rather magical about summer jumping, isn't there? I remember my old dad always saying that the horses who showed up to Southwell on a Tuesday evening in June were either very keen or very good – sometimes both. Today's card proved his point beautifully, with seven races that reminded us why National Hunt racing doesn't need to hibernate when the sun's shining.
The good ground at Southwell – reading a healthy 33 on the soil moisture gauge – provided the perfect stage for what turned out to be a cracking evening's sport. It's days like these that make you appreciate the all-weather's little brother up in Nottinghamshire, where the jumping game carries on regardless of the season.
The Feature Race: Class Acts in the Summer Chase
The 2:30 opener might have carried the longest title in racing – 'The Free Race Evening Thursday 18th June Handicap Steeple Chase' – but it was the quality of the field that really caught the eye. With £8,900 on offer and ARC Summer Chase Series qualification at stake, this was no ordinary Tuesday afternoon affair.
Seaview Rock, carrying top weight off a mark of 118, looked the part for the James Bowen stable. There's something about this horse that screams 'progressive', and with the Bowen brothers – James and Sean – splitting duties across the card, you knew they'd come mob-handed and ready for business.
The real intrigue, though, lay with Duke of Luckley and Pep Talking, both rated 114 and carrying the 'C,D' flags that suggest connections are taking no chances with the ground conditions. Freddie Keighley's booking on Duke of Luckley particularly caught my attention – the lad's riding with real confidence these days, and trainers don't put him up unless they fancy their chances.
Ones to Follow: The Future Stars
If you're looking for horses to mark in your notebook for the months ahead, start with the maiden hurdle at 4:00. A £10,000 pot for a Class 4 maiden tells you everything about the quality lurking in this field, and with ARC Summer Novices' qualification up for grabs, expect to see some of these names in much better company come the autumn.
Way Maker for the James Bowen yard immediately jumps off the page. The name alone suggests big things are expected, and Bowen doesn't run maidens at Southwell unless he thinks they can win. Keep a close eye on this one's debut – it could be the start of something special.
Over in the bumper at 3:30, Muscadet with Tom Bellamy aboard screams class. Bellamy doesn't often venture to the Midlands for a Tuesday evening jolly, so his presence suggests this French-bred newcomer has been showing plenty at home. The fact it's a Category 1 Elimination race adds extra spice – these are the sort of contests that can launch a career.
In the staying hurdle division, Jafimgoso caught my eye in the 3-mile contest at 4:30. Harry Skelton in the saddle is never a bad sign, and off a mark of 99, this one looks to have been campaigned with a specific target in mind. The Skeltons don't travel for the sake of it.
The Jockey Factor
Speaking of the Skeltons, Harry's presence on the Southwell racecard added a touch of championship class to proceedings. When you've got someone of his calibre making the trip, you know there's serious prize money to be won.
The Bowen brothers' double-handed assault was equally noteworthy. James and Sean between them had rides in virtually every race, suggesting their respective yards had been planning this raid for some time. It's always worth following the big guns when they descend on the smaller tracks – they don't travel without good reason.
Charlie Hammond's booking on Scottish Anthem in the evening's finale was another pointer worth noting. Hammond's having a stellar season, and his agent clearly fancies this one's chances in what looks a competitive handicap hurdle.
Looking Ahead: Where Next?
The beauty of a card like today's is that it serves as a stepping stone to bigger things. Those ARC Summer Series qualifiers will be popping up at tracks like Uttoxeter and Market Rasen over the coming weeks, and several of today's performers will no doubt be following the trail.
The maiden hurdle winners, in particular, will be worth following into novice company. There's nothing quite like a confident jumping debut to set a horse up for a profitable summer campaign, and with the ground riding fast and true, we should have seen several horses at their best.
For the handicappers, today's efforts will either have earned them a hike in the weights or confirmed they're still well treated. Either way, the form should work out nicely as we head into the height of the summer jumping season.
The Verdict
Days like today remind you why summer jumping has its own special charm. Away from the hustle and bustle of the winter festivals, horses can show their true colours on good ground with less pressure and smaller, more select fields. Southwell provided the perfect stage, and several horses will have enhanced their reputations considerably.
Keep those notebooks handy – something tells me we'll be seeing some of today's stars in much grander company before the year's out. And if my old dad was right about Tuesday evening performers being either keen or good, then we've just witnessed plenty of both.
