A Grand Sunday at the Steeples — Welcome to Towcester

Right, pull up a stool and listen close, because Towcester is putting on a proper spread this Sunday afternoon. Seven races, nearly £175k in prize money spread across the card, and the jewel in the crown — the £75,000 bet365 Summer Cup — sitting right in the middle of it all like a pint of Guinness waiting to be drunk. It's a cracking day's jumping for late June, and I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Now before we get into the meat of it, let's talk ground. The going is Good, Good to Firm in places, with a soil moisture reading of 52. That's drying ground, make no mistake. Towcester's undulating, stiff track — that lung-busting climb to the finish is no joke — takes plenty out of a horse even on easy ground. On this surface, you want horses who travel well within themselves, don't idle in front, and crucially, have the breeding and the engine to handle a proper test. Anything that wants soft underfoot is going to find this a bridge too far. Keep that in the back of your mind all day. Check out the full Towcester racecard for all the details before you have a penny on.

The Feature Race: bet365 Summer Cup Handicap Chase (3m, 15:27)

Fourteen runners, three miles, £75,000. This is the one. The bet365 Summer Cup is the kind of race that rewards horses who've been around the block, know how to jump efficiently, and can grind out a finish up that famous Towcester hill. On Good to Firm ground, stamina is everything — and that last half-mile will separate the genuine stayers from the pretenders.

Hang In There (rated 146, Harry Cobden up, Emma Lavelle) is the top weight and the one everyone will be talking about. A 12-year-old carrying the burden of a big reputation, he's a course and distance winner — that [C,D] tag says it all — and Harry Cobden doesn't take summer Sunday bookings for fun. At 146 he's got plenty to give away to the field, but Lavelle's yard knows how to have one primed for a day like this. He's the class act in the race, no question. The concern? Twelve years of hard miles on legs, and this ground isn't going to be forgiving. If he's spot-on, he wins. If there's an ounce of staleness, something younger will gun him down.

Riskintheground (rated 144, Harry Skelton, Dan Skelton) is the one I'm most sweet on. Nine years old, a course and distance winner, and trained by a yard that has been absolutely ruthless in their preparation of horses for specific targets this season. The Skeltons don't throw Harry at things they don't fancy — if he's here on a Sunday in June, there's a reason for it. On Good to Firm ground, Riskintheground's jumping efficiency becomes a massive asset; he doesn't waste energy, he travels, and he finishes. This is my each-way flag-bearer for the feature.

Twig (rated 144, Beau Morgan, Ben Pauling) is another course and distance winner at the same mark as Riskintheground, and at 11 years old he's a seasoned campaigner who clearly loves this track. Pauling is a trainer who targets his horses well, and Twig's record here speaks for itself. He won't be far away, though at his age the Good to Firm surface could just catch him out late on.

Further down the weights, keep a close eye on Ki Woo (rated 130, Jack Tudor, Greenall & Guerriero). Six years old, lightly weighted, and a yard in tremendous form. He's the unknown quantity — no course or distance form here, but he's young enough that this ground suits him and he's got the engine to improve on what we've seen. Each-way at the bigger price? I wouldn't argue with you.

Earlier on the Card — Don't Sleep on These

13:47 — Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (2m 4f)

Three runners, which means this is essentially a match between Sony Bill (rated 140, Harry Cobden, Faye Bramley) and Pony Soprano (rated 124, Harry Skelton, Dan Skelton). Sony Bill has a massive 16-pound pull on Pony Soprano at the weights, and Cobden doesn't get on 140-rated novice chasers for the good of his health. Faye Bramley is a trainer worth watching — she's quietly building a formidable operation. Sony Bill should win this if jumping cleanly, but Pony Soprano's [C] tag — a course winner — means he knows the track. Could Harry Skelton conjure something? He usually can, but the weight concession looks too much here.

14:17 — Novices' Hurdle (2m 3f 207y)

The interesting one here is Flying Ace (Gordon Elliott, Harry Skelton). An unrated horse from Gordon Elliott — that alone should make your ears prick up. Elliott sending a horse to Towcester on a Sunday in June tells you he wants it to win. Skelton in the saddle confirms it. The [D] tag suggests distance form, and on Good to Firm ground, a well-bred Elliott horse with something to prove could easily bolt up. This is my banker of the day. Sam Twiston-Davies rides Not Now for the family yard, and they're never without a chance, but I'm siding with the Irish raider here.

14:52 — Handicap Chase (1m 7f 214y, Class 2)

Breaking Cover (Sam Twiston-Davies, Anthony Honeyball) has course and distance form [C,D] and is rated 131. Honeyball is a trainer who knows how to place his horses, and on this faster ground over the shorter trip, Breaking Cover's jumping sharpness becomes a real weapon. The non-runner Gunsight Ridge opens the race up somewhat. This looks a solid each-way proposition.

16:43 — Class 4 Handicap Hurdle (1m 7f 168y)

Only four runners after Morning Mayhem's non-runner, and Edelak (Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton) is the one to beat. Rated 118, four years old, with distance form — the Skeltons are at it again. Short field, short price, but probably a short race to the winner's enclosure too.

17:20 — Closing Handicap Hurdle (2m 3f 207y)

A lovely way to end the day. Dream's Ka (Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton) catches the eye — four years old, distance form, and the Skelton machine in full operation. Sam Twiston-Davies rides Ocean Conquest for the Twiston-Davies yard, and that combination always demands respect. But again, I'm following the Skelton money.

Going Conditions — The Deciding Factor Today

I keep coming back to this Good to Firm surface because it genuinely matters at Towcester. This isn't Cheltenham or Ascot where the undulations are manageable — Towcester's climb is a proper examination, and on faster ground, horses who lack fluency over their fences will pay a heavy price. Look for clean jumpers, horses with a high cruising speed, and anything with stamina pedigree on the dam's side. Anything that's been winning on soft or heavy ground recently? Leave it alone today, no matter how tempting the price looks.

Best Bets Summary — Tom's Towcester Picks

  • BANKER: Flying Ace (14:17) — Gordon Elliott, Harry Skelton, unrated and hungry. Back it and don't look back.
  • EACH-WAY: Riskintheground (15:27) — Course and distance winner, Skelton up, yard in flying form. My Summer Cup pick.
  • EACH-WAY: Breaking Cover (14:52) — C&D form, Honeyball knows his horse, Sam Twiston-Davies a big plus.
  • INTEREST: Ki Woo (15:27) — Young, lightly weighted, big price potential in the Summer Cup.
  • SHORTIE: Sony Bill (13:47) — Cobden doesn't travel for nothing. Should win the opener.

That's your lot from me. Seven races of proper summer jumping at one of the most character-filled tracks in England. Get yourself a good price on Riskintheground each-way in the Summer Cup, stick Flying Ace in your acca, and enjoy the racing. I'll see you on the other side — hopefully with a smile on my face and a few quid in my pocket. Good luck to one and all.