A Proper Summer's Day at Dunstall Park

Well now, here's something you don't see every day of the week - a seven-race National Hunt card at Wolverhampton in early June, and on Good going no less! The weather gods have been kind to us, and Dunstall Park is serving up a feast of summer jumping that'll have the ARC Summer Series punters licking their lips.

It's a curious thing, summer jumping, but by Christ it's grown on me over the years. While the flat brigade are getting all the headlines at Epsom and the like, we've got proper sport happening in the Black Country. The Wolverhampton racecard reads like a who's who of trainers looking to keep their string ticking over, and with Good going underfoot, we should see some genuine pace throughout the afternoon.

The Feature Attraction

The pick of the card has to be the 4:50 Best Scrap Metal Prices CRS Malvern Handicap Hurdle - a Class 3 affair over two and a half miles that's carrying £15,000 in prize money. Now that's what I call a proper pot for a Saturday afternoon, and you can bet your bottom euro that the connections taking aim at this one aren't here for the craic.

This distance on Good going will suit the galloping types, and I'd be looking for horses with proven stamina reserves. The track at Wolverhampton can be a bit of a slog in the closing stages, particularly when you're asking them to travel two and a half miles. Any horse that's shown form over three miles in the winter will have conditions to suit here.

The handicapper will have his work cut out with this field, but that's what makes it interesting from a punting perspective. Look for the ones that have been campaigned lightly through the spring - they'll have that bit extra in the tank when it matters.

ARC Summer Series Qualifiers Galore

Four of the seven races on the card are ARC Summer Series qualifiers, which tells you everything you need about the quality on show. The 1:45 Mares' Handicap Chase kicks things off over two miles four furlongs, and there's nothing I love more than a good mares' race. The ladies often show more heart than their male counterparts, particularly when the ground is riding on the quick side.

The 2:20 FBC Manby Bowdler Handicap Chase stretches out to two miles seven furlongs, and that's where we'll separate the wheat from the chaff. Any horse that can win over this trip on Good going in June has serious credentials for the autumn campaigns ahead.

Don't overlook the 4:15 Novices' Hurdle either - it might be the baby race of the afternoon, but some of these four and five-year-olds will be household names come Cheltenham time. The smart trainers use these summer contests to educate their youngsters, and there's often value to be found backing experience over raw ability.

Going Conditions: The Great Leveller

Good going in June is a beautiful thing, so it is. None of that winter slop that can turn a two-mile race into a lottery. The track will be riding fast and true, which means we can trust the form book a bit more than usual.

This going will favour the horses with a bit of pace about them - the ones that can travel sweetly in behind and quicken when asked. The heavy ground specialists can have a day off; we want to see the athletes in action today.

For the staying chases, Good going means they'll need to be properly fit. There's nowhere to hide when the ground is this fast, and any horse that's been given a soft preparation will find out about it in the final furlong. Look for the trainers who've been giving their charges proper work on the gallops.

Summer jumping is all about the trainers who understand the game. The big yards that keep their horses fresh through the spring months often clean up during these summer series, while others are already thinking about the beach holidays.

Keep an eye on any horse that's been off the track for 40-60 days - that's the sweet spot for a summer return. Too fresh and they might need the run; too stale and they've lost that competitive edge that wins races.

The bumper at 3:33 deserves a mention too - these National Hunt Flat races can throw up some serious future stars. Any four or five-year-old that can win a bumper on Good going has the makings of a proper horse. The smart money often goes on the ones with point-to-point experience, but don't discount the well-bred types having their first taste of racecourse action.

Best Bets and Ones to Watch

Without runners declared yet, I'm focusing on the types that typically excel in these conditions. For the feature hurdle at 4:50, look for proven stayers with course form - Wolverhampton rewards the horses that know their way around.

In the novice events, experience trumps breeding nine times out of ten on Good going. The horses that have had a couple of runs under their belt will know what's expected when the pace quickens.

For the mares' race, don't be afraid to back one that's been running in better company through the winter. Class is permanent, and a mare dropping down from Grade 2 level to a Class 4 handicap often represents serious value.

It's shaping up to be a cracking afternoon's sport at Dunstall Park. The Good going will ensure we see proper racing, and with £67,500 in total prize money up for grabs, the connections will be taking this seriously. Sometimes the best racing happens when nobody's looking - and Saturday afternoon jumping in June might just be one of those times. Sláinte to that!