IT’S probably not the best turn of phrase to use after the rotten winter we’ve just endured – but this week is very much a case of the calm before the storm in horseracing terms.
The 2025 Cheltenham Festival begins in just eight days’ time.
And, while punters are already wrestling with which combination of supposed certainties like Kopek Des Bordes and Constitution Hill, Jonbon and Teahupoo, Lulamba and Galopin Des Champs to lump together on next week’s doubles, trebles, four-way accas and Lucky 15s, this week is all about giving yourself a little thinking time, doing some swotting up and keeping your hard-earned money trousered.
Most of it, that is.
Racing in the Midlands this week is a bit thin on the ground – but there are still four meetings.
First up is the usual Monday meeting on the all-weather at Wolverhampton.
Tony Carroll has runners in seven of the nine races, while Billy Loughnane has two well-fancied rides, Rogue Trader in the 7.00 and Beaumadier for his dad Mark, in the 8.30.
And they are back there for more on Saturday afternoon – which will be the first meeting held there not under the lights since the clocks went back in October.
There are also two jumps meetings next weekend – Hereford on Saturday and Warwick on Sunday.
There might not be any Cheltenham runners on show, but you might see a few sharp Cheltenham haircuts, for the more groomed among the grooms.
Then it will be off to Prestbury Park on the Tuesday.
And if you’re planning to head off beyond Midlands boundaries to start your week, then you could do worse then follow the local trainers all sending runners across to Nottinghamshire today – for the seven-race card at Southwell.
Shropshire’s Mel Rowley has two entered on the first day at Cheltenham next week, Happygolucky in the Ultima Handicap Chase and Kyntara in the National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase. And she also has her Welsh Grand National winner Val Dancer in the field for the Midlands Grand National in its usual slot at Uttoxeter the day after Cheltenham is over.
But, of more immediate note are the Rowleys’ three at Southwell today – Troop Ship in the Maiden Hurdle (3:42) and then Ici La Reine over the same 1m7f distance in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle (5:15), both rides for Charlie Deutsch, while outsider Steady the Ship runs in the earlier Open Hunters’ Chase (3:07) under husband Phil’s name.
That race also features the splendidly named Jimmy The Digger, for another Shropshire handler Henry Daly, who travels on the back of a fine victory from the front for Lounge Lizard, ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies at Huntingdon on Sunday.
The 12-year-old gelding has won in a bumper, over hurdles and twice over the bigger jumps and enjoyed a second at Cheltenham in October but then tipped up his rider Archie Jones on his latest start at Ludlow last month.
Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole also send only one runner, Pillar The Poet, who makes his hurdles debut in the 3:42 after coming fifth out of eight in a bumper at Newcastle in January.
High-flying Harry Skelton has two rides for brother Dan – Jeffery’s Cross (2:03) and Cobblers’ Boy (3:42) – as he looks to close down the growing gap in the 2024-25 jump jockeys’ championship to seemingly unstoppable Welshman Sean Bowen, who is now 20 winners ahead with less than two months of the season to go.
Dan Skelton has a further runner, Ronnies Rules in the Maiden Hurdle (4:12), ridden by amateur Ben Sutton, and having previously won three bumpers, is looking to improve on his first two starts over hurdles, when he each time unseated his jockey.
This week’s meetings in the Midlands
Monday 3 March
Wolverhampton (All Weather/Flat)
First race: 4:25
Last race: 8:30
Saturday 8 March
Hereford (Jumps)
First race: 1:25
Last race: 4:55
Saturday 8 March
Wolverhampton (All Weather/Flat)
First race: 2:45
Last race: 6:15
Sunday 9 March
Warwick (Jumps)
First race: 2:20
Last race: 5:30
