Norton trainer Ollie Pears, having been forced to endure a wasted ten-hour journey to Ascot and back last weekend with My Arch, hopes to pick up some minor compensation with his stable star at Southwell’s extra meeting this afternoon.

With Ascot having been abandoned, thus denying My Arch a crack at a handicap hurdle, the versatile gelding will today revert to Flat racing at a meeting which is being staged at short notice to provide jumpers and dual-purpose horses starved of action, with some welcome racing competition on the level.

My Arch is a pretty good horse on the Flat. His victories this year include a useful Newmarket handicap under Kieren Fallon, while he also finished a highly creditable eighth in the Cesarewitch, back at Newmarket, on his latest start in October.

Pears has been fancying his chances of winning with My Arch at Ascot last Friday, and he is also fancying his chances of winning today’s Play Blackjack At totesport.com “Jumpers’ Bumper” over two miles.

With Brian Hughes in the saddle, the North Yorkshire raider is expected to come up trumps probably at the main expense of Alfie Flits, a former useful Flat horse, and a smart performer in recent years over hurdles and most recently over fences.

Alan Swinbank, trainer of Alfie Flits, can figure on the Southwell scoreboard.

He has good prospects with First Rock (1.20), a Musselburgh winner four weeks ago, Pyracantha (1.50), also a winner at Musselburgh on his latest start, and Bivouac (2.20).

The latter is no stranger to this course. A five-times winner on the Flat, he gained four of those successes at this venue.

Furthermore, as a horse who goes well fresh, he looks capable of making a bold bid coming on the back of a break from competitive action.

Swinbank, who is based at Melsonby near Richmond in North Yorkshire, has been able to keep his string on the move during the wintry weather on his seven-furlong woodchip gallop, and there is every chance that he could also score with Priceless Art (3.20).

This talented five-year-old has won two of his four runs in bumpers, most recently at Market Rasen in June.

Provided his fitness is up to scratch after his lay-off, he should go close under Barry Keniry.

Donald McCain completed a double at the most recent extra meeting here and the Cheshire trainer has every chance of adding to his tally with Inthesettlement (12.50), who shaped with plenty of promise when finishing second on his one and only outing to date. Jason Maguire has the mount.


Today's selections

Southwell
12.50 Inthesettlement, 1.20 First Rock, 1.50 Pyracantha, 2.20 Bivouac, 2.50 My Arch, 3.20 Priceless Art.

Kempton
3.55 Papageno, 4.25 Breathless Kiss (NAP), 4.55 Corsican Boy, 5.25 New Code, 5.55 Lean Machine, 6.25 Private Joke, 6.55 One Oi.

Today’s other meeting:
Lingfield.

There is now no scheduled racing until Boxing Day.