Ladies Day looming at Southwell races

There will be plenty on offer for all racegoers, including a fashion show co-organised with John Lewis and The Take That Experience performing after racing.

As for the racing, there is a Class 2 handicap chase over two and a half miles on the card which was won last year, albeit narrowly, by Wiesentraum, trained in Newmarket by Lucy Wadham and ridden by this year’s Grand National winning rider Leighton Aspell.

They feature among the entries but he may have some stiff opposition. Evan Williams has entered one of his star summer jumpers Buck Mulligan who is a frequent runner in contests such as this throughout the summer, whether it be at Perth, Southwell or Market Rasen, where he has some of his best form.

Sedgemoor Express is a big improver this summer over both hurdles and fences and could easily take another step forward and be competitive after his recent win at fellow ARC racecourse, Worcester.

Wiesentraum is also entered in the feature hurdle race on the card, a three mile handicap hurdle which also features 2013 Swinton Hurdle winner Barizan in the early entries for Donald McCain. The progressive On The Record is entered for Jonjo O’Neill and AP McCoy, who was a course and distance winner at Southwell before a hard-fought victory at Uttoxeter, a win that allowed McCoy to draw level with Martin Pipe on 4191 winners.

If you are at Southwell on Sunday and struggling to pick out the day’s winners before racing begins, there will be a preview of racing at 1.30 with raceday presenter Will Bowler joined by commentator Martin Harris and racing expert and William Hill Radio pundit Dave Massey to guide you through the card.

There was racing on Thursday at the track, with the feature handicap going to the well-backed Pearl Nation for trainer Mick Appleby and jockey Andrew Mullen, who had doubles as Guishan took the opening race as well.

Johnny Murtagh made the long trip from Ireland worthwhile as Steuben landed the mile and a half handicap under young apprentice Ross Coakley.

However, Keiran Fallon was unable to guide the trainer’s second runner to victory, losing out narrowly, which denied Murtagh the double with his first runners on all-weather surfaces in Britain.

Tickets are selling fast for Sunday, so to make sure of a space, visit www.southwell-racecourse.co.uk or call 01636 814481.