Richard Newland taking aim at July jumps resumption with big team at the ready

Grand National-winning trainer Richard Newland is readying a big team of summer jumpers as he works towards the return of what he hopes will be a familiar-looking race programme on July 1.

Newland, who recorded 29 winners between May and August last year, admitted the delay to the provisional return of jump racing had been frustrating.

However, he also welcomed being able to work towards a return on July 1. Should the season restart then he will have around 35 horses to campaign.

"We're still planning to have plenty of horses for this summer," said Newland. "It's been very frustrating but it has been for everyone.

"The plan for the resumption of racing has felt like Flat first and jumps second. It's debatable whether that was really necessary but having some clarity of a possible return date is helpful.

"Nobody quite knows when we're going to be able to return. My belief is that if we can restart by the beginning of July we'll have a normal summer schedule behind closed doors.

"We don't want to get there and for it to be a series of bumpers and that's it."

Newland has discussed the provisional schedule with the National Trainers Federation (NTF) and BHA and believes there could be extra races added to the schedule if there is demand for them.

He said the BHA has been in contact with trainers to assess this and ascertain which type of races will be required when racing resumes.

Meanwhile, due to uncertainty surrounding the return of racing, Peter Bowen, who traditionally has a lot of runners during the summer, has taken the decision to turn out all of the horses in his care.

Peter Bowen: 'We'll bring them back when we know more'

"There's no point keeping them in when there's no definite answer to when racing will restart," said Bowen, who would ordinarily be preparing a team of around 50 horses for the coming months.

"We'll bring them back when we know more but it's not fair for owners to pay training fees when it's unclear when racing will resume."

Read more:

Gordon Elliott maps out summer Flat campaign for talented jumpers

No fast start this summer for Skelton

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