Good Ground Glory at Hexham
Right then, racing fans, we're off to the beautiful Hexham this Saturday for what promises to be a cracking afternoon's sport. The going is sitting at good, good to soft in places - that's an 80:20 split if you're keeping score - and by Jaysus, that's music to the ears for those of us who appreciate proper jump racing conditions.
Seven races on the card, with prize money reaching a very respectable £60,000 for the feature chase. The Hexham racecard is stuffed with quality, and I'll be keeping a keen eye on how these conditions play out. Good ground at Hexham can be deceiving - it rides a touch slower than you'd think, and stamina often trumps pure speed around this undulating track.
Feature Race: The Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap Chase
The £60,000 Class 2 chase over 2m 4f is the jewel in today's crown, and what a field they've assembled. Eight runners, but this looks like a proper battle between the big guns at the head of the market.
**Etalon** (9yo, 144) tops the weights for Dan Skelton, and Tristan Durrell takes the ride. This fella is a machine when he's in the mood - that 144 rating didn't come from nowhere. The worry? He's been a touch inconsistent this season, but on his day, he's a class above this field.
**Blueking d'Oroux** (141) represents the Paul Nicholls battalion with Harry Cobden aboard. Course and distance winner, which counts for plenty around here. The French-bred has that typical Nicholls polish, and the stable's been in cracking form lately. Don't be surprised if this one sneaks up on the outside.
**Califet En Vol** (141) is another course and distance scorer for Nicky Henderson. Nico de Boinville knows this track like the back of his hand, and this one has the class to make a proper fight of it. The going will suit him down to the ground.
Mares' Novices' Hurdle: Nicholls Newcomer Catches the Eye
The opening mares' novices' hurdle looks a fascinating puzzle. **Gold Cast** stands out like a sore thumb with that 118 rating - the only horse in the field with an official mark. Harry Cobden wouldn't be making the trip north for Paul Nicholls without serious expectations.
That said, Dan Skelton has a useful double-handed attack with **Burning Embers** and **Jollie Dame**. Liam Harrison gets the leg up on the latter, and the Skelton team have been firing in winners left, right and centre this season.
**Molten Sea** for Jonathan Burke and Fergal O'Brien is another to note - the distance winner tag could prove crucial over this trip.
Class 2 Hurdle: Royal Infantry Leads Strong Field
The £40,000 hurdle over 2m 5f is absolutely stuffed with quality. Fourteen runners, but a few stand out like beacons in the fog.
**Royal Infantry** (140) is the class act here for Dan Skelton and Durrell. That rating puts him clear at the top, and this extended trip should play to his strengths. The worry is whether he can give weight away to some useful sorts below him.
**The Four Sixes** (138) is a course and distance winner for Olly Murphy - that's a massive tick in the plus column. Sean Bowen knows how to get the best out of this one, and the going conditions are spot on.
Don't overlook **North Lodge** (136) for Alan King. This nine-year-old is a proper stayer and Tom Bellamy rides with confidence. The trip and conditions are right up his street.
**La Pinsonniere** drops down in class for Nicky Henderson. Nico de Boinville aboard, and at 130, she could be very well handicapped if reproducing her best form.
Going Conditions: The Key Factor
This good, good to soft ground is absolutely crucial to how today plays out. Hexham can be a funny old track - it looks straightforward on paper, but there are plenty of undulations that catch horses out, especially when they're tiring.
The stamina test becomes more pronounced on this ground. In the feature chase, that favours the likes of **Califet En Vol** and **Blueking d'Oroux**, both proven course winners who know how to handle these conditions.
For the staying handicap chase over three miles, **Doctor Ken** for Olly Murphy looks the type to relish these conditions. The ten-year-old has bags of experience and Sean Bowen's 5lb claim brings him right into contention.
In the novices' hurdle, **Etna Bianco** for Joe Tizzard looks the pick. Harry Cobden takes the ride, and this six-year-old should appreciate the step up in trip on this ground.
Best Bets and Ones to Watch
**GOLD CAST** in the opener looks a gift at likely odds. That 118 rating in a field of unrated mares? Nicholls and Cobden don't travel north for the craic.
**BLUEKING D'OROUX** in the feature chase is my idea of the winner. Course and distance form, in-form stable, and Harry Cobden knows exactly what he's got underneath him.
**THE FOUR SIXES** in the competitive hurdle handicap screams value. Course and distance winner, Ciaran Gethings and Freddie Gordon will be busy throughout the card, but it's the proven Hexham performers who'll come to the fore.
For the staying chase, **DOCTOR KEN** at the likely odds looks a proper each-way steal. Olly Murphy's team are flying, and this old warrior knows how to get the job done.
Sláinte to a cracking day's racing - may the best horse win and the bookies feel the pinch!
