Towcester stages its feature Ladies Evening card on Friday night and as many as seven local trainers have fielded entries to suggest they want to join in the party.
Prominent among the handlers who appear to be targeting the card which has a 5.55pm start are Cropredy Lawn based Paul Webber and Holdenby North Lodge operator Caroline Bailey, both of whom have made four entries on the seven-race card.
Live music during and after racing will be one of the more attractive features along with the traditional parade of ladies hoping to win £1,000 cash courtesy of Towcester Racecourse and a Gucci watch, provided by Michael Jones Jewellers.
Webber and Bailey have only been occasional visitors to Towcester during 2012/13, the main reason being the absence in their ranks of horses suitable for the races provided. Yet both trainers will hope their supporters are dancing to a mellow beat after they unleash their runners.
Webber has made alternative entries during the week for three of his hopefuls: recent Uttoxeter winner Lemon’s Gent, Definitely Glad, who was a highly encouraging third on the same card at the Staffordshire track, and previous Towcester scorer Halucha who probably needs a return to a stiff track to re-produce his best.
The Bailey team has been in decent form of late and will be optimistic to sign off the Towcester campaign until October with a winner courtesy of: Morning Moment (2m 3 1/2f handicap chase), Prince Des Marais (2m novices’ hurdle), High Ron (2m 3 1/2f maiden chase) and High Holla (2m mares’ National Hunt Flat race)
Northampton singer songwriter Luke Girvan will be playing an acoustic set off his album ‘Take Me To The Doctor’, released in March, during racing. The 25 year-old has imaginatively branded his Twitter site #Frocksandhorses to link in the Ladies Evening theme which also combines a Cider Festival and a Cocktail and ‘Rocktail’ Bar.
Other local trainers to watch out for at Towcester’s seasonal finale are: Tony Middleton, Ben Case, Alex Hales, Richard Harper and John Upson, while Laura Hurley, based just over the county border at Kineton, could attempt to win the 2m 3 1/2f Glazerite Windows Ltd Handicap Chase with the appealingly named Best Lover, after saddling a winner with Moscow Mule at the last fixture.
Culworth based Middleton saddled an across the card double at Stratford and Market Rasen and a couple of recent second places suggest Bob Lewis could be competitive in the opener, if he has recovered from two runs at Towcester in the last three weeks.
Meanwhile, revellers looking to capture the mood of the evening can enjoy rhythm and blues band Spank after the racing action finishes at 8.55pm.