Monday's Kelso Delivers the Goods
Well now, wasn't that a proper Monday afternoon's entertainment up at Kelso? While the jumps boys are having their summer holidays, the flat brigade served up a cracking card that had more twists than a Cork country road. Seven races of honest endeavour on good ground, and by Jaysus, there were some performances that'll have the handicapper reaching for his red pen.
The Scottish Borders venue might not have the glamour of York or the prestige of Newmarket, but what it lacks in fanfare it makes up for in honest racing. Monday's Kelso racecard was a proper punter's puzzle, with maiden fillies showing promise, novices finding their feet, and some seasoned campaigners reminding us why they're still in training.
Feature Race: Class Acts Come to the Fore
The £18,000 Class 3 handicap over six furlongs was always going to be the day's main event, and fair play to the connections of Rogue Supremacy – that's a horse with a bit about him. Luke Morris gave the 90-rated gelding a peach of a ride, and the way he quickened in the final furlong suggested there's more to come from this fellow.
But here's the thing that caught my eye – Mythical Bird ran an absolute blinder in defeat. David Probert had the 77-rated son of Showcasing positioned perfectly, and while he couldn't quite get there, the manner of his finish was that of a horse going places. Mark my words, when he drops back into Class 4 company, he'll be taking some stopping.
Do Bronxs and First Legion both ran with credit too, and either could find a race before the summer's out. The form of this race will work out well, I'd wager.
Ones to Follow: The Notebook Fillers
Right, let's talk about the horses that'll be earning their connections a few quid in the coming weeks. In the Class 4 mile-and-a-quarter handicap, Hamadhan caught the eye something fierce. George Wood had him traveling like a dream, and while he couldn't quite get home, that was the run of a horse coming to himself.
The maiden fillies' race threw up a couple of interesting types too. Luna Celeste shaped with real promise under Saffie Osborne – there's a race in her when she steps up in trip. And don't sleep on Secret Harvest either; Mason Paetel gave her a lovely educational ride, and she'll know plenty more next time.
But the one that really got my attention was Spiritoftheblues in the novice stakes. David Probert's mount traveled like a good horse for most of the way, and while he found one or two too good, that 76 rating looks workable. He's bred to stay further, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him pop up in a nice handicap before long.
Trainer and Jockey Combinations Worth Noting
Speaking of David Probert, the man was having a right good day of it. His positioning throughout the card was exemplary – that's a jockey in form, and when he teams up with the right horse, punters should take note. Similarly, Billy Loughnane continues to catch rides for the right people, and his partnership with anything rated in the 60s or 70s is worth a second look.
Lewis Edmunds was busy as a bee with multiple rides, and while not all came off, the way he's getting opportunities suggests the yards have faith in his ability. Keep an eye on his mounts in similar company – there'll be winners to come.
The apprentices' race at the end threw up some interesting partnerships too. Young Matthew Lloyd Slater gave Moon Over The Sea a cracking ride, and that combination could be worth following in similar grade.
Looking Ahead: Where These Horses Pop Up Next
Now, where do we see these performers next? Rogue Supremacy will likely be aimed at something similar or perhaps stepped up to Pattern company if connections are feeling ambitious. The way he won suggests he's not done improving.
Mythical Bird screams out for a drop back to Class 4 company – possibly at somewhere like Catterick or Hamilton where the prize money's decent and the competition might be a shade easier.
As for the maidens and novices, most will be targeted at similar grade, but a few might be stepped up in class if their homework at home backs up what we saw on the track. The flat season's long, and there's plenty of time for these types to develop.
The Verdict: Quality Monday Fare
All told, Monday's action at Kelso was exactly what you'd want from a Bank Holiday card – competitive racing, a few eyecatchers for the future, and enough talking points to keep the racing chat flowing until the next meeting. The ground was perfect, the jockeys were on their game, and several horses enhanced their reputations.
The feature race lived up to its billing, but it was the supporting cast that really impressed. When horses like Mythical Bird and Spiritoftheblues are running the sort of races that suggest better days ahead, you know you've witnessed a proper day's racing.
Keep those names in the notebook, and don't be surprised if we're talking about a few of these again before the summer's through. That's the beauty of these Monday cards – they're often where the stars of tomorrow announce themselves to the world.
