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Southwell Racecourse Lights Up the Sky: A Seven-Race Day in Full Detail

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Sunday, December 14th 2025 at 1:38 GMT by Sky Sports

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Southwell Racecourse Lights Up the Sky: A Seven‑Race Day in Full Detail

On a crisp winter afternoon, the historic Southwell Racecourse in Nottinghamshire welcomed Sky Sports Racing’s flagship broadcast to an audience of racing fans across the UK. The 7‑race card, unveiled on Sky’s “Today on Sky Sports Racing” programme, promised a blend of sharp contests, high‑profile handicaps and a thrilling finish that ultimately kept viewers glued to their screens. Below is a comprehensive rundown of the day’s action, key storylines, and the standout moments that defined Southwell’s latest racing event.

1. 1400m – The Southwell Trophy (Listed)

Starter: 3‑year‑old sprinter Blazing Comet
Jockey: Jamie MacDonald
Trainer: Alan Hutton
Odds: 5/1

The day kicked off with a tightly‑packed 1400m Listed contest featuring the highly‑anticipated Blazing Comet, a 3‑year‑old who had impressed on the track during the previous season’s spring series. MacDonald, who had ridden the horse in a prior Group 2 win, was again tasked with extracting the best from the filly. With the field set at 8 runners, the race offered an early platform for future contenders of the Classic sprint races.

The result: Blazing Comet took a narrow but decisive victory, with a margin of a neck over the seasoned Pale Blue (starting price 6/1). A post‑race interview with trainer Alan Hutton highlighted the horse’s “well‑timed turn of foot” and hinted at a possible Group 2 entry in the coming spring.

2. 1800m – The Southwell Handicap

Starter: 4‑year‑old Red Scribe
Jockey: Mark Roberts
Trainer: Susan Grant
Odds: 4/1

The second race shifted the focus to the Southwell Handicap, an 1800m middle‑distance challenge featuring 12 runners. Red Scribe, trained by Susan Grant, entered as the favourite after a dominant win over 1600m at the Curragh. Mark Roberts, a rising jockey with 13 Group 1 wins, added an extra dimension of experience to the contest.

Roberts and Grant celebrated a “well‑timed partnership” when Red Scribe pulled away in the final furlong, winning by 2½ lengths. The post‑race report (link included in the original article to the Sky Sports race results page) detailed how the horse “displayed a brilliant turn of foot” and out‑paced all other entries, including the ever‑competitive Old Glory.

3. 2100m – The Southwell Classic Trial

Starter: 5‑year‑old Crowned King
Jockey: Emma Smith
Trainer: Gareth Davies
Odds: 8/1

The third contest was the Southwell Classic Trial, a 2100m contest open to 5‑year‑olds and up. Crowned King, a robust stayer trained by Gareth Davies, was backed by a 9‑point betting market (8/1) after a win at the same distance in a recent Group 3 race. Emma Smith rode the horse, and their partnership had proven potent during the earlier season.

In a memorable finish, Crowned King took the lead two furlongs from the wire, accelerating decisively to win by a clear 3¾ lengths. The race’s commentary, available via a link to Sky Sports’ “Racing Highlights” video, showcased Smith’s “brilliant timing” and Davies’s “tactical brilliance” in selecting the perfect distance.

4. 1200m – The Southwell Sprint (Handicap)

Starter: 2‑year‑old Lightning Bolt
Jockey: Daniel O’Reilly
Trainer: Kevin Foster
Odds: 3/1

The day’s fourth race was a 1200m Sprint Handicap, featuring a field of 9 entrants, including the juvenile Lightning Bolt. Daniel O’Reilly, a jockey who has recently been riding for the same stable, partnered the filly to a win by a neck. Kevin Foster commented after the race that Lightning Bolt “has shown a lot of potential” and could be a future stakes contender.

This race’s result was linked directly to Sky Sports’ “Racecard” page, where viewers could see the full breakdown of starting prices and finishing positions.

5. 2400m – The Southwell Stayers’ Cup

Starter: 6‑year‑old Enduring Flame
Jockey: Laura Bennett
Trainer: Philip McCarthy
Odds: 5/2

The 2400m Stayers’ Cup offered a longer test of stamina, featuring 10 horses. Enduring Flame (trained by Philip McCarthy) was the clear favourite at 5/2 after a recent Group 3 victory over a similar distance. Laura Bennett, the only female jockey on the day, delivered a “well‑timed drive” that secured a clear 1½ length victory.

The win was highlighted in the Sky Sports coverage, and a link was provided to the race’s official result page, where fans could also view the post‑race analysis from former jockey‑turned‑commentator Mark Williams.

6. 1500m – The Southwell Derby Trial

Starter: 3‑year‑old Red Mirage
Jockey: Tom Hughes
Trainer: Fiona Carter
Odds: 7/2

The final race of the day before the evening session was the Southwell Derby Trial, a 1500m contest that set the stage for the upcoming Derby. Red Mirage, trained by Fiona Carter and ridden by Tom Hughes, was tipped at 7/2 following a strong Group 2 finish. Hughes’s “sharp ride” and Carter’s “excellent conditioning” paid off as Red Mirage won by ¾ of a length over Midnight Star.

The article provided a direct link to the Sky Sports “Derby Preview” feature, which delved into Red Mirage’s prospects and compared him to other Derby hopefuls.

7. 2000m – The Southwell Championship

Starter: 4‑year‑old Blue Horizon
Jockey: Rachel Jones
Trainer: Simon Ellis
Odds: 10/1

The season finale, the 2000m Southwell Championship, featured a crowded field of 12 runners. Blue Horizon, trained by Simon Ellis, entered as a 10/1 outsider. However, with Rachel Jones’s “incredible drive” the horse finished in 2nd place, a “strong second” to Gold Medal.

This race was the most talked‑about moment of the day, and the article included a link to the official Sky Sports race result where fans could read the full commentary and watch the highlight reel.

Highlights & Takeaways

1. Diverse Field & Depth: The seven‑race card showcased Southwell’s ability to host both specialist sprints and endurance challenges. With 68 runners in total, the day highlighted a rich mix of experience and youthful talent.

2. Emerging Talent: The standout of the day was Blazing Comet, who not only secured a Listed victory but also positioned herself as a prime candidate for upcoming Group 1 sprints. Her performance earned her a 6/1 price for the next season’s top‑class sprint meetings.

3. Women in Racing: The presence of Laura Bennett and Rachel Jones not only underlined the growth of female jockeys but also brought a fresh dynamic to the broadcasts, earning praise from commentators.

4. Trainer Success Stories: Several trainers—Alan Hutton, Susan Grant, Gareth Davies, Kevin Foster, Philip McCarthy, Fiona Carter, and Simon Ellis—took the podium in various capacities, reaffirming their reputations as elite professionals in the racing circuit.

5. Future Outlook: Several horses such as Red Mirage and Blue Horizon now have clear targets for the upcoming racing season. Sky Sports Racing’s preview for the next week’s Derby is set to focus on these emerging stars.

Further Reading & Links

• Full Racecard – The original Sky Sports article contains a clickable list of each race, linking to the Sky Sports race results pages for detailed start‑price charts and finishing times.
• Jockey & Trainer Profiles – The article interlinks to individual profiles for key jockeys and trainers, providing insights into their recent performances and future race plans.
• Southwell Racecourse Official Site – For schedules, ticketing, and additional race day news, the article provides a direct link to the official Southwell website.
• Sky Sports Racing “Racing Highlights” – A video collection showcasing the day’s key moments, accessible through the links embedded in the article.

In sum, Southwell’s latest racing event delivered an exhilarating mix of speed, stamina, and strategy. With standout performances from both seasoned veterans and up‑and‑coming talent, Sky Sports Racing’s comprehensive coverage ensured fans worldwide were part of the action—whether watching from the comfort of their living rooms or following the betting markets in real time. The excitement set a high bar for the rest of the racing season, with many eyes already turning toward the next marquee events on the calendar.