A first trip of the year to Southwell racecourse, just outside of Newark in Nottinghamshire, for a competitive meeting where the smaller lights had their time to shine on a breezy day on the all weather track. At first glance, the amount of class six races would be unappealing to many, but there were some horses once very smart at their peak and still performing to the best of their current ability. 
The feature race of the day looked a quality event for its class three level with plenty of well known faces lining up with names for the future in the saddle. Elsewhere on the card, a maiden for three-year-olds and older over the minimum trip also looked set to be an interesting race. Plenty of high profile jockeys and trainers were represented over the course of the meeting as preparations continued towards the beginning of the turf season in a couple of months. 

Race One: The BetUK Handicap (Div. 1) (Class Six) (6 furlongs)
Winner: With Respect (Gutaifan x More Respect) (#4)

The opening event was split into two divisions at declaration stages and was well attended with a field of twelve going to post. A couple of well known horses once high class in their younger days were still enjoying the sport. Corinthia Knight lined up for owners Ontoawinner and trainer Archie Watson and the now eight-year-old is well into the veteran stage of his career with his eightieth career start in this race. Also lining up in the race was With Respect for the Hughie Morrison yard and once looked a smart prospect by winning on his two-year-old debut before setbacks curtailed his career. More recent form on offer was displayed by the likes of Jack Ryan, Peachy Carnehan and Coast all being placed on their latest start.
The race outcome would benefit those who liked to race prominently and in the early exchanges, Autumn Flight, Corinthia Knight and Winnetka helped to set a decent tempo. Entering the home straight, it was the grey With Respect who nosed ahead and made his challenged. He would be strong at the finish to hold off the fast finishing Idoapologise and win his first race since a very promising debut in November 2020. After a near career-ending tendon injury at the end of 2021, With Respect found himself at the lower end of the racing pyramid, but he showed he still has a deal of ability with this impressive win. It was a credit to those closest to the son of Gutaifan as they retained the faith and were rewarded with their patience. 

Race Two: The BetUK Handicap (Div. 2) (Class Six) (6 Furlongs)
Winner:  Em Jay Kay (Brazen Beau x Skara Brae) (#2)

Division two of the opening event was a similarly wide open affair with eleven runners taking the start. Amongst the entries saw the popular sprinter Dark Shot, another well into the twilight zone of his career. Trained locally Scott Dixon just yards from the racecourse, the ten-year-old is still capable of running well in higher grades despite his ageing legs. Earlier in his career, he was sharp enough to finish placed in two renewals of the "Epsom Dash", the fastest race in Britain. The consistent Em Jay Kay has enjoyed a profitable winter for trainer Phil McEntee and the lightly raced Sam's Call lined up for the incomparable character of Mick Easterby. 
The early pace once again looked very honest with plenty of front runners and the first three home were all held up behind the leaders in the opening stages. Entering the final furlong, Sam's Call had gone for home on the far side of the group and looked set to collect another win, but he was swamped by Em Jay Kay who finished fastest of all to take the prize and gain another win during a consistent all-weather season. 

Race Three: The BetUK Maiden Stakes (Class Four) (7 Furlongs)
Winner: Jer Batt (Dragon Pulse x Nora Batt) (#5)

An interesting maiden race for older horses was next up on the racecard. Racing over the minimum trip of five furlongs, it was a competitive event for the track with stables from Newmarket represented along with plenty of last time out runners up. The stable of Lisa Williamson wouldn't usually be associated with many winners, but their filly Sugar Hill Babe had shown plenty of ability recently. Finishing second on her last three starts, a first win would be deserved for the small yard. In opposition saw the likes of Ben Dikduk for trainer William Knight, placed in a Newmarket maiden at the end of October before taking a few backwards steps in his progress. Headgear was experimented for the first time and he would receive the assistance of Jamie Spencer in the saddle. The newcomer Gypsy Nation represented the Archie Watson stable who is capable of readying a horse first time out. The ex-Irish trained Jer Batt made his debut for the shrewd stable of David and Nicola Barron, a yard always respected at this course.
It would be the Irish import who would take home the win and did so in impressive fashion. Right from the start, the David Barron-trained gelding was smartly away and always travelled powerfully. Entering the final stages, he stretched clear and won by a widening three length margin under Jason Hart, his second winner of the afternoon. In behind, Sugar Hill Babe overcame a sluggish start to take the silver medal for the fourth consecutive race and the flashy chestnut Ma Famille showed promise in third. Jer Batt held some smart form in Ireland last season, finishing placed behind the pattern level Clever And Cool. This may not have been the strongest race in history, but the style and potential displayed could see Jer Batt go in again for his respected trainer. 

Race Four: The BetUK Classified Stakes (Class Six) (1 mile, 4 furlongs) 
Winner: Owens Lad (Harbour Watch x Dancing Primo) (#4)

A tight looking classified stakes on paper which featured plenty of runners who had kept busy on the all-weather over the winter. There was little recent form for punters to study on, but the consistent group of Sicario, Persian Wolf and Moon Over The Sea were all expected to be well fancied.
Three non-runners depleted the field to just nine runners and the race looked even tighter than before. The early pace was very sluggish as the field ambled around Rolleston's racecourse in the opening phases. The relative hack canter was soon upped into a sprint in the final furlong and it would be Owen's Lad to finish best of all. Bursting through the pack and sprinting clear, he soon had clear daylight behind him. Sicario chased him in vain but it was too little, too late as Owen's Lad was already easing up past the winning line. An important moment for leading apprentice rider Laura Pearson as she rode the first winner since her comeback from a bad back injury. A highly regarded young jockey, Laura will undoubtedly want to kick on now the winning feeling has returned. 

Race Five: The BetUK Apprentice Handicap (Class Three) (1 mile, 4 furlongs)
Winner: Evania (Golden Horn x Hanami) (#5)

The feature race of the day looked a cracking contest with some high class horses arriving in Nottinghamshire. The race was restricted to apprentice jockeys and some of the best up-and-coming riders were all present. At the top of the weights saw the popular grey Gumball for trainer Fergal O'Brien. Popular not only for his looks and connections, Gumball is part of an exclusive group of horses to have won on the flat, over fences and over hurdles during his career. Out of the classier entrants was First Officer for the Jane Chapple-Hyam stable. The son of Galileo was last seen finishing a close fourth in the valuable November Handicap at Doncaster and had the services of young jockey Tommie Jakes enlisted. The lightly raced Evania won her first two starts before finding a listed race too hot, but still rated as a smart prospect for trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy. The well bred Aztec Empire was also very lightly raced with just three runs to date but won by a wide margin and was related to smart types.
All nine runners stood their ground and punters were treated to some quality horses and an exciting finish. In the early stages, First Officer led on just his second start on an all-weather surface. The rest of the pack were tightly grouped and it remained wide open until the final few furlongs. First Officer had challenges on all sides and it would be Evania and Capital Theory who took over at the head of affairs. As the pair of lightly raced types knuckled down to do battle, the mare Evania found a little extra. Under rising star Mark Winn, the daughter of Derby winner Golden Horn asserted in the final strides to win comfortably over Captial Theory. 
The Kevin Phillipart de Foy-trained five year old has been very lightly raced with this being just her fourth career start, but it was also her third career win. Evidently held in high regard, she had found a pattern class race too hot previously. Racing exclusively on the all-weather, she could progress further, even with April's All-Weather Championship Finals meeting on the radar. A smart performance by a progressive mare. 

Race Six: The Spredex Sports Classified Stakes (Class Six) (7 furlongs)
Winner:  Lord Cherry (Profitable x Winning Sequence) (#5)

The second classified race of the meeting, this time over seven furlongs. There was little to choose between the runners on the ratings with the field spread from figures between 44 and 50 over the nine runners. Last time out winner Written Broadcast looked likely to be in the firing line once again after finding a jolt of improvement since joining current trainer Ollie Pears. The reliable Oriental Lilly was also present alongside Caballo Racing's flag bearer Muatadel. The formidable pairing of Faye McManoman and Nigel Tinkler were represented by Lucky Lucky Lucky. 
As the sun began to set over the Nottinghamshire countryside, it cast a nice golden sky over the action. There was drama at the start as How Bizarre reared as the gates opened and lost many lengths on his rivals. Early leader Little Gem was taken on by Lord Cherry and the pair contributed to a strong looking pace. Turning for home, the pack fanned out across the track and were nine in a row at one point. The Stuart Williams-trained Lord Cherry eye-balled his rivals and looked vulnerable, but he gamely kept finding extra to hold them all off and take the trophy back to Newmarket. It would also be the third winner of the day for jockey Jason Hart, a fantastic judge of pace on the all-weather tracks. Well backed favourite Written Broadcast suffered plenty of hard luck in running and did well to finish as close as he did in second with another grey Fact Or Fable completing the placings.