A Proper Evening Out in Northumberland
There's something rather special about evening racing at Hexham in April. The light's just starting to stretch, there's that crisp Northumberland air that makes you glad to be alive, and the locals are out in force after a day's work. Wednesday's Hexham racecard had that lovely mix of quality and quantity that makes for a proper evening's entertainment – seven races spanning everything from promising fillies making their debuts to battle-hardened handicappers scrapping for every penny.
My old dad always said you could judge a day's racing by the quality of the jockeys turning up, and when you've got the likes of Oisin Murphy, Robert Havlin, and Billy Loughnane making the trek up to the Borders, you know there's decent prize money and decent horses on offer. The going was riding on the slower side – Standard to Slow – which always adds an extra tactical dimension and tends to favour the stayers over the speed merchants.
Fillies Take Centre Stage
The evening's feature was undoubtedly the Virgin Bet/EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at 5pm, a Class 3 affair over a mile and two furlongs that attracted a field of six promising sorts. This is exactly the type of race that can throw up future stars, and with £12,000 on offer, connections clearly fancied their chances.
Romantic Symphony, partnered by the in-form Billy Loughnane, caught my eye in the paddock. There's something about the way Loughnane's been riding this season – he's got that quiet confidence that comes with being in the zone. The fact he's picked up three rides on the card tells you plenty about how trainers rate him at the moment.
But it was Littlecote with Oisin Murphy that had the punters talking. When Murphy makes the journey north for an evening meeting, you sit up and take notice. The daughter of Sea The Stars has breeding to burn, and if she's anywhere near ready, that partnership could take some stopping.
Light of Paris, also with Havlin aboard, represented another intriguing runner. The Gosden stable doesn't send horses this far north without genuine expectations, and Havlin's presence in the saddle only reinforced that impression.
Handicap Highlights and Progressive Sorts
The 7pm fillies' handicap over the extended mile and a quarter was another race that caught the attention. Rastnet, top-rated on 84 and again partnered by the busy Loughnane, looked to have solid claims at the weights. But it was Spirit of Jura, down in trip from her last couple of outings, that appealed as a potential improver.
Club Class, with Murphy taking the ride, was another to note. Rated 80 and carrying the 'C' code for first-time cheekpieces, she looked the type who might just find that extra gear with the headgear applied. These mid-season gear changes often signal a horse coming to hand, and with Murphy's tactical nous, she could easily outrun her odds.
In the sprint handicaps, Return of The Gods caught my fancy. Callum Rodriguez doesn't get the big-name rides very often, but when he does, he tends to make them count. The horse has been knocking on the door in better company, and dropping back to this level could see him finally get his head in front.
Ones to Follow
From Wednesday's action, several horses emerged as definite notebook material for future reference. Any of the fillies from that opening novice event who showed promise will be worth following through the summer months – these types often improve markedly for their first run and can pick up nice prizes at the summer festivals.
In the handicap ranks, keep an eye on anything that ran well despite the slower going. When Hexham dries out – and it will – the form often works out particularly well. The sprint handicappers especially tend to appreciate faster conditions, and several of Wednesday's runners looked like they were crying out for better ground.
Jockey Watch
Billy Loughnane's presence across multiple races was the evening's standout booking pattern. When a jockey of his calibre commits to four rides at an evening meeting, it usually means he's been promised some decent ammunition. His partnership with various trainers has really blossomed this season, and he's riding with the sort of confidence that suggests bigger things are just around the corner.
Oisin Murphy's selective rides also deserve respect. The champion jockey doesn't waste trips on no-hopers, and his presence on both Littlecote and Club Class suggested these were live chances in their respective contests.
Looking Ahead
The beauty of a card like Wednesday's at Hexham is that it often throws up horses who'll be winning at the summer festivals. The fillies from that opening novice event could easily turn up at York's Ebor meeting or Goodwood's Glorious week, while the handicappers will be targeting the valuable prizes at places like Chester and Haydock through the coming months.
For the everyday punter, evenings like this are gold dust. You get to see horses at realistic prices before they hit the big time, and there's always that chance of spotting the next star before the market catches on. The slower going might have caught a few out, but it also means we'll see several of these horses to much better effect when conditions improve.
It's meetings like this that remind you why racing remains the sport of kings – and why Hexham on a Wednesday evening in April can be every bit as rewarding as Royal Ascot on a Tuesday in June. Sometimes more so, if you've backed the right one.
