When Flat Racing Comes to the Borders
Well now, there's something beautifully incongruous about watching silks flash past the Northumberland hills on a Monday evening in April. Hexham might be better known for its jumping exploits, but when the flat brigade rolls into town, they don't mess about. Monday's seven-race card served up a proper feast, headlined by the Listed Magnolia Stakes that had more twists than a Galway publican's story.
The going was riding standard to slow after recent rain - nothing too testing, but enough to separate the wheat from the chaff. And by Christ, didn't we see some proper performers emerge from what looked a competitive Hexham racecard on paper.
Devil's Advocate Rules the Roost
The £60,000 Magnolia Stakes was always going to be the evening's centerpiece, and William Buick's mount Devil's Advocate didn't disappoint the punters who backed him down to odds-on. Rated 112 and carrying the 'D' designation, this one had class written all over him from the moment he stepped onto the track.
But fair play to the connections of Gethin - Callum Rodriguez gave the favorite a proper race, and that 108 rating suggests there's more to come from this progressive sort. Military Academy, carrying both 'C' and 'D' designations at 104, ran a cracker in third and looks the type who'll be winning a decent handicap before the summer's out.
The real eye-catcher for me was Plage de Havre under Oisin Murphy. Running off 103, this one was staying on strongly at the finish and screams 'step up in trip'. Mark my words, when they let this horse loose over a mile and a half, there'll be some proper value to be had.
Novice Nuggets and Future Stars
The opening Virgin Bet Novice Stakes threw up some interesting sorts, though with most carrying null ratings, it was a case of reading between the lines. Oisin Murphy taking the ride on Zain Primus caught my attention - the champion jockey doesn't turn up to Hexham for the craic, so there must be something there.
James Doyle on Creative Queen was another booking that pricked the ears. When you've got jockeys of that caliber making the trip north for a Class 4 contest, you know there are horses in there with a future.
The fillies' restricted novice over the mile looked a proper educational affair. Freda, rated 72 and ridden by Paddy Bradley, had the form edge on paper, but Eastern Veil with Murphy aboard again was the market mover. These restricted affairs often throw up improvers, and I'd be keeping a close eye on anything that ran well here for their next outing.
Handicap Heroes and Future Plotters
The Class 3 handicap over the extended mile and three was where the real plotting began. Bahadur, carrying top weight off 91 with both 'C' and 'D' designations, looked the one they all had to beat. James Doyle in the saddle again - sensing a pattern here with the top jockeys making their presence felt.
But the one that caught my fancy was Topteam under Oisin Murphy. Rated 87 with the 'D' designation, this horse has been campaigned sparingly and has the look of one being saved for a specific target. When they drop him back into the right grade, there could be a proper touch on.
Youthful King at 86 is another to keep onside. The name suggests there's improvement to come, and carrying the 'D' designation means the handicapper hasn't given up on him yet. Jack Dace taking the ride suggests the stable fancies their chances.
The evening's fillies' handicap was a cracking little sprint, with Lady Roxby looking the class act off 84. But Musical Angel, despite carrying the 'D' designation, looked overpriced at the weights. Paddy Bradley knows his way around these northern tracks, and an 83 rating suggests there's still some juice left in this one.
London Series Qualifiers Point the Way
Both the mile handicap and the staying contest were London Series qualifiers, which adds an extra layer of intrigue. These horses aren't just running for Monday evening prize money - they're plotting a path to the capital's summer festivals.
Champagne Powder in the mile division looked the progressive type, while Final Night under Rossa Ryan had the form to take this. But it was Mr Baloo with James Doyle that really caught the eye. That's three times I've mentioned Doyle now - the man was clearly on a mission at Hexham.
The staying qualifier threw up some proper stayers, with Fair Dinkum looking the one to beat off 70. But Fleurman, carrying both 'C' and 'D' designations, looked like he was being placed to win. These London Series qualifiers often throw up improvers who go on to bigger things in the summer.
The Verdict: Quality Beneath the Surface
What struck me about Monday's card was the quality of jockeyship on show. When you've got Murphy, Doyle, Buick, and Ryan all making the trip to Hexham on a Monday evening, you know there are proper horses in training that are worth following.
The ones to keep onside from this meeting: Plage de Havre for a step up in trip, Topteam when he drops back in grade, and anything from the novice contests that showed promise. These Hexham meetings often throw up the winners of next month's better contests.
The standard to slow going didn't seem to inconvenience anyone too much, but it's worth noting which horses handled the conditions best. Come the summer, when the ground gets faster, some of these performances might look even better in hindsight.
All in all, a grand evening's racing that reminded us why the flat game has its own particular charms. Roll on the next northern raid - there's clearly plenty more where that came from.
