Jumps campaign puts Warwick in spotlight

After a successful summer flat season, topped by a crowd of 6,500 on August Bank Holiday Monday, managing director, Huw Williams, is looking forward to the new jumps campaign.

He said: “We will again have two of our meetings televised on Channel 4, which is good for everyone connected with the course, and are also looking forward to our New Year’s Eve fixture, which we hope will attract a bumper attendance.”

With the continuing drop in prize money a major concern for the industry (Sandown Park being the latest course to announce cuts), Williams was hopeful that Warwick could “lesson the impact” of reductions.

This is a problem that will not go away quickly, though, as the annual battle to secure a bigger share of bookmakers’ profits to support the racing industry is far from won.

Wednesday’s seven-race card kicks off at 12.55pm with the TurfTV Handicap Hurdle over two miles and concludes with the Warwick Mares´ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Qualifier) at 4.15pm.

The highlight should be the fourth, the Commscope And Anixter Business Partners Novices´ Chase, which was won last year by the classy Somersby.

Henrietta Knight’s charge went on to win the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown, beating Crack Away Jack, before putting up an even better performance when going down by less than a length to Sizing Europe in the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival.

Racegoers will be hoping that next week’s renewal throws up an equally talented peformer.

The summer proved to be a difficult time for punters but, with four winning favourites at last year’s opening jumps meeting, they will be looking to get their own back on the bookies as the winter unfolds.

n Tickets to the main enclosure are £15, with free admission for children under 17 (if accompanied by an adult). For seniors and those aged 17-24 admission is £10.

The ticket hotline is 08445 793013, with further information available from the racecourse office on 491553. 

Adults can save ten per cent by booking their tickets online at www.warwickracecourse.co.uk