Soaring temperatures across the Isle of Wight and rest of the UK over the Spring Bank Holiday have announced that summer is officially here. It’s the time when barbecues get lit, fans are brought down from the loft, and the Flat horse racing season kicks up a gear.
For some trainers, however, the road to the 2027 Grand National starts now. The Summer Jumps season has marquee races across June and July, providing opportunities for unknown horses to start their journeys towards the elite level and become Grand National runners.
If you’re looking for a Grand National outsider to track once the main Jump Season resumes in the winter, or simply want to see more from this underappreciated British racing season, here’s what makes the Summer Jumps season so important.
Marquee summer races can push horses into contention
There are two main summer jumps races that can set a horse on the path towards the Grand National. The first is June’s Summer Cup at Uttoxeter, and the second is July’s Summer Plate at Market Rasen.
The Summer Cup is a physical proving ground for any horse looking to snag a spot in the Grand National as an outsider. Run over a gruelling 3 miles and 2 furlongs, reaching the finishes line satisfies the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) distance requirement for any Grand National horse who finishes in the top four. As an added bonus, a dominant winner can also get a decent handicap bump towards the 143+ needed to enter the National.
If the Summer Cup is about proving a horse’s physical attributes, then July’s Summer Plate is all about proving temperament and composure. With a field of up to 20 horses running, the race is the summer’s most notoriously fast-paced and chaotic. If any horse can withstand the pressures at Market Rasen, it’s considered to have a good chance of coping at Aintree.
Why Summer Jumps matter
None of the established jump horses, or even those with only a short way to go before gaining Grand National entry, will run at either of these races. They’ll spend their summers in their paddocks, while trainers start work on preparing them for winter.
For any trainers looking to guide an outsider into the Grand National, though, these races can be crucial. One who’s always used them to great effect is Peter Bowen.
His most famous summer jumper is McKelvey, who won the 2006 Summer National at Uttoxeter. The following year at the Grand National, McKelvey ran the race of his life to finish second behind the winner Silver Birch. Bowen also saw Francky Du Berlais run the 2023 Grand National after winning back-to-back Summer Plates in 2021 and 2022.
Meanwhile, the Ben Pauling trained horse Twig converted his 2023 Summer Cup win into a 2024 Grand National appearance, where he finished tenth.
With a summer season containing such crown jewels as The Derby at Epsom, Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood, it’s easy to focus on the flat season in the summer. Experienced fans, however, know to keep a keen eye on the Summer Jumps too.
