Dreading the end of the jumps? Help is at hand with our survival guide

To the outside world, spring is a time of joy, weeks filled with the anticipation (or at least hope) of a long, glorious summer ahead – memories of cold, wet and windy days just that. But for followers of the jumps faith, those who laugh in the face of an onslaught of hail, whose tweed regalia renders rain a fruitless deterrent to a day at Plumpton, spring marks the end of 'their' time. The jumps are over.

Or are they? The Flat may be dominating headlines and airwaves from here on, but just as their brethren on the level look to Melbourne and Dubai for kicks during the winter months, jumps fans can find a rich source of sporting sustenance during the not-so-barren summer.

Just one more . . .

Okay, starting off on a slight technicality as the Irish season is still running, but we've still got three more days of the Punchestown festival to take in. It's the ultimate reprieve for those in denial that the Flat season is upon us. 2,000 Guineas day? Please, more like EBF Mares' Champion Hurdle day.

Try a soft Jexit

Fair to say Jexit doesn't really work as a concept, but what does is the rare British mixed meeting, providing a little something for everyone – and let's face it, we could do with some compromise right now. So in that spirit, why not head to Haydock's mixed card on Saturday, May 11, and ease yourself into the Flat while also enjoying the Swinton Hurdle (soon to be renamed the Evan Williams Benefit Handicap Hurdle if recent results are anything to go by)?

John Constable and Davy Russell slip the field to win the 2017 Swinton HurdleCredit: John Grossick

It's far from grim up north

Northern tracks often come into their own during the summer months, hosting a plethora of meetings small in scale but big in jumps spirit – so why not tick off a few more courses on the 'done' list? First up has to be Cartmel, Cumbria's hidden jewel which not only hosts two designated barbecue meetings, where racegoers are encouraged to bring their own grill (and can order packs of meat with advance tickets – genius!) but dogs are also admitted, adding to the all-round sense of family fun synonymous with summer jumps meetings.

Look between the flags

If you haven't been point-to-pointing, you're missing out – and if you have, you know it combines some of the best elements of jump racing, plus you can bring your own picnic (and drinks), ensuring a day out that's great for action and value. Best of all, the season runs until mid-June, so if the Derby's not your thing, pack up the car and head to Staffordshire or Pembrokeshire to revel in some amateur jump racing.

Bienvenue mon jumps amours

That French may not make sense, but a pilgrimage across the Channel in search of more action over obstacles certainly does. Only the Grand National eclipses the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris in terms of prize-money in Europe and the good news if you're tempted is this year there is top class-action at French jump racing's spiritual home Auteuil on both Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19.

And while the 'Grand Steep' is the centrepiece of three Grade 1s on the Sunday, Saturday features the French Champion Hurdle (Grande Course de Haies), in which the indomitable De Bon Coeur could face an armada of more familiar names from the yards of Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins.

Speaking of Mullins, if there is an itch left to scratch on the great man's list of big-race wins – in a year when he has already added the Gold Cup and the Irish National – then it is most definitely the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, and depending on what happens at Punchestown next week, perhaps Al Boum Photo himself could be the star attraction.

Follow familiar names

More and more in recent seasons big jumps names have been plundering even bigger prizes on the Flat – think Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott winning four of the last seven renewals of the Queen Alexandra Stakes between them, the champion trainer also nabbing last season's Cesarewitch with Low Sun for good measure.

However, don't just wait for the big races to come along, keep an eye out at regular weekday meetings for familiar faces – Alan King in particular has got off to a flying start on the turf in 2019 with a level-stakes profit of +8.00, having enjoyed a record number of winners in 2018 alongside prize-money just shy of £500,000.

Alan King: the jumps trainer is expanding his influence on the FlatCredit: Hugh Routledge

Speaking of money, if you're more about spondulicks than sentiment, other jumps trainers worth sticking with on the 'other code' include Gordon Elliott with a level-stakes profit of +8.74 on turf in 2018, Warren Greatrex (+7.16), Willie Mullins (+5.75) and Neil King (+12.75, two of whose four runners last year hit the mark at smart odds).

Go on then, just one more . . .

Or how does six suit you? Ireland is replete with summer jumping festivals, starting with the first of three at Killarney on May 12-14, followed by meetings in July and August. Bellewstown hosts its own July festival a week before Newmarket's Flat equivalent, followed four weeks later by the pièce de résistance, the Galway festival. Yes, it shares the stage with top Flat contests, but top billing is split between the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle – and the Guinness!

Next to take the spotlight is Listowel, a less raucous affair but perfectly timed if the St Leger really isn't your thing. The St Leger you say? That's in September. Which means October's not far away. And Cheltenham races in October . . .

See, that wasn't so bad, was it?

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