Hexham After Dark: A Night Worth Staying Up For

There's something about Hexham under the autumn sky that just feels right. The Northumberland air was crisp, the going was Standard to Slow, and the Hexham racecard for Wednesday evening was absolutely stacked with intrigue. Eight races, nearly 80 runners, and enough jockey firepower to light up the north of England. This wasn't a filler card — this was a proper night at the races.

From the opening apprentice handicap at 17:00 right through to the mile closer at 20:30, the action barely let up. Let's break it all down.

The Feature Race: Novice Stakes Fireworks at 17:30

If you had to pick one race that had the racing world sitting up and paying attention, it was the Unibet Supports Safer Gambling EBF Novice Stakes — a Class 3 GBB Race over seven furlongs worth £13,000. Ten runners, a host of unraced or lightly-raced types, and a jockey list that reads like a who's who of the weighing room.

William Buick took the ride on Lancaster Tower, and that booking alone had punters reaching for their wallets. Buick doesn't travel to Hexham on a midweek evening for the scenery — when he's in the north, he means business, and Lancaster Tower was the horse connections clearly believe in most.

But it was far from a one-horse show. Oisin Murphy — who had an extraordinary evening with multiple rides across the card — partnered Twelve Bars, and Sean Levey was aboard Kaboom, a name that practically dares you to back it. Cieren Fallon on Oldbullyoungbull added a bit of character to proceedings, while Billy Loughnane — who was absolutely everywhere tonight — took the mount on Byzantine.

With the GBB bonus in play, connections of any winner here will be smiling all the way to the bank. Novice races like this one are goldmines for spotting future stars, and several of these will be well worth following into the winter months.

Ones to Follow: The Horses That Caught the Eye

A card this rich always throws up a few names worth scribbling in the notebook. Here are the ones that stood out on paper — and the ones that should be on your radar going forward.

  • Lancaster Tower (17:30) — The Buick booking says it all. If this one runs well, expect to see it pitched into something more prestigious before the season closes. A horse to follow regardless of the result tonight.
  • Kiniro (19:30) — Oisin Murphy doesn't take a 6f sprint handicap lightly, and Kiniro arrives with a course-and-distance win to his name. The London Sprint Series Qualifier tag gives this race real stakes, and a horse rated 75 with CD form is exactly the profile you want. If he fires, the Series final could be next.
  • Ghaiyyath Dream (18:00) — Billy Loughnane in the saddle for the fillies' maiden, and the name alone — a daughter of the great Ghaiyyath — screams class. Unraced fillies with that kind of breeding don't fetch up at Hexham by accident. One to watch very closely.
  • Marquetry (18:30) — Oisin Murphy's mount in the fillies' novice over 1m 2f 219y. A staying test for unraced fillies is always fascinating, and Murphy's booking suggests connections have real confidence. The GBB/GBBPlus status of the race adds extra incentive to win.
  • Silver Trumpet (17:00) — Rated 75 and carrying the course-and-distance flag into the opening apprentice handicap, Oliver Carmichael's mount is the form horse of the race. CD winners in these conditions are hard to oppose, and a horse at the top of the weights in a Class 5 can still be well-treated.

Jockey Watch: Murphy, Loughnane and a Stacked Book

Let's talk about the jockeys, because the booking sheet tonight was genuinely remarkable for an evening meeting at a northern track.

Oisin Murphy had rides in no fewer than five races — the novice stakes, the fillies' maiden, the Class 6 handicap, the sprint qualifier, and the stayers' qualifier. That's a full book, and Murphy doesn't spread himself thin without good reason. He's a man who picks his battles, and when he commits to an evening like this, you pay attention to every single one of his mounts.

Billy Loughnane was equally busy, with bookings across six races. The young champion jockey continues to be in demand everywhere, and his presence at Hexham on a Wednesday evening speaks volumes about how seriously connections are taking these races.

William Buick had two rides — Lancaster Tower in the novice and Yamnah in the fillies' novice — and both are worth watching. Buick is selective. Two rides at Hexham means two horses he genuinely fancies.

Meanwhile, in the opening apprentice handicap, it was a brilliant showcase for the next generation. Oliver Carmichael, Isobelle Chalmers, Taryn Langley, and Olivia Tubb were all in action — and races like these are exactly where future stars of the weighing room are forged.

The London Series Qualifiers: Bigger Picture Racing

Two races on tonight's card carried Series Qualifier status, and that elevates the entire evening significantly.

The London Sprint Series Qualifier at 19:30 over six furlongs was a cracking little heat. Twelve runners, all rated between 68 and 75, and a host of course-and-distance specialists in the mix. Madman (Loughnane), Charlie Boyo (Georgia Dobie), and An Outlaw's Grace (Sean Levey) all brought CD form to the table, but it was Kiniro under Murphy that looked the most compelling on paper. The winner here could well be lining up at a London track before the month is out.

The London Stayers Series Qualifier at 20:00 — almost two miles around Hexham — was a very different beast. Gemmari (Levey), Benvoy (Havlin), and Now The Eagle (Jack Dace, CD) were the ones to focus on in a race where stamina is the name of the game. Stayers' races at this time of year often throw up horses that go on to have fine winter campaigns, and the form from this qualifier deserves close scrutiny.

Final Word: A Hexham Evening to Remember

Eight races. A galaxy of talent in the saddle. GBB bonuses, Series qualifiers, and a card that gave punters and form students plenty to chew on long after the last race was run.

Hexham doesn't always get the credit it deserves as a venue, but on nights like this — with the big names turning up and the racing genuinely competitive from top to bottom — it's impossible not to love the place.

Keep an eye on Lancaster Tower, Kiniro, and Ghaiyyath Dream in the weeks ahead. All three have the profile of horses that will be seen again in better company, and tonight's Hexham racecard may well have been the launchpad for something special. Bookmark the form, watch the replays, and stay tuned — this card is going to keep giving.