The Weatherbys Racing Bank Colwick Cup is set to make its much-anticipated return this year on Tuesday 13th August, continuing its evolution as a major event on the Nottingham racing calendar. The inaugural running of this race was on 14 August 2015 and run over a mile and three quarters, with a prize fund of £35,000. The race conditions were originally designed to offer horses significant prize money while potentially securing a high enough handicap rating to run in the valuable Ebor Handicap at York.
It was the 14-1 chance Rhombus claimed victory for the first running and was trained by Ismail Mohammed and ridden by apprentice Tim Clark. The race succeeded in drawing a maximum field of 17 declared runners, with strong betting turnover despite four non-runners due to rain on the day.
In 2021, following a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was restored with significant changes to better fulfil its original intent. Most notably, the race distance was extended to two miles, meaning it now serves as one of the first trials for the famous Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket in the autumn.
Last year’s race was a highlight of the season in which the three-year-old Campaign Trail emerged victorious after a fierce battle with outsider Capone. The memorable finish and excitement last year highlighted the competitiveness that the Colwick Cup consistently delivers.
As we look ahead to this year's renewal, we are exploring opportunities to connect the race with the Grassroots Final Day, potentially offering an enticing bonus to win on both racedays. This connection would further enhance the significance of the race within the broader racing season.
