A Friday Night Feast at Leicester
There's something rather magical about Friday evening racing, isn't there? While most folk are settling into their weekend routines, we racing devotees get treated to what can often be the pick of the week's action. And my word, Leicester didn't disappoint this evening with a card that had more quality than a Fortnum & Mason hamper.
I remember my old dad used to say that you could judge the quality of a racing card by counting the number of times you reached for your notebook. Well, I nearly wore the thing out tonight. Seven races, four of them Grade 1s, and prize money that would make a small lottery winner blush. This was the sort of evening that reminds you why we fell in love with this game in the first place.
The Leicester racecard read like a who's who of National Hunt racing, with enough star power to light up the East Midlands. But more importantly for us everyday punters, it was packed with horses that'll be worth following through the rest of the season.
Heart Wood Shows Class in the Feature
The £250,000 JCB Melling Chase was always going to be the evening's centrepiece, and what a race it shaped up to be. With Heart Wood carrying a rating of 168 under Darragh O'Keeffe, he was the one they all had to beat. But in a field that included the likes of Grey Dawning (165) with Harry Skelton and Solness (166) partnered by J.J. Slevin, this was no gimme.
What struck me about this contest was the depth of quality throughout. L'Eau du Sud at 163 would be a warm favourite in most Grade 1s, yet here he was just another runner in what looked like a proper championship-level affair. These are the races that separate the wheat from the chaff, and whoever came out on top would have serious credentials for the big spring festivals.
The tactical angle was fascinating too. Over two miles and three furlongs, you'd expect the pace to be strong early, but with most of these having won their novice chases last season, ring-rust could play a part. JPR One under Brendan Powell looked like he might try to make it a test of stamina, while Heart Wood's class suggested he could win from anywhere.
Novice Hurdle Gems to Follow
If you're looking for future stars, the two novice hurdle contests were absolute goldmines. The Grade 1 ThatPrizeGuy Top Novices' Hurdle might have only had six runners, but what a six they were. Sober Glory came in with a rating of 153 - that's serious championship-level form already - while Baron Noir looked the type to improve significantly for this seasonal debut.
But it's in the longer Sefton Novices' Hurdle where I suspect we saw some real future stars emerge. Johnny's Jury with his 147 rating was the standout on paper, but in a three-mile contest, ratings don't always tell the full story. Zeus Power and Mondoui'boy both carried the look of horses who could develop into serious staying hurdlers.
The beauty of these novice contests is that you're often watching next season's Stayers' Hurdle contenders having their first serious examination. Dalston Lad under Harry Skelton caught my eye particularly - the Skelton team have a knack for producing stayers who improve throughout the season.
Handicap Highlights and Future Winners
The opening William Hill Handicap Hurdle was a proper punter's puzzle - 22 runners and barely 14lbs covering the field from top to bottom. Favour And Fortune topped the weights on 140, but in these competitive handicaps, it's often the ones lurking down the bottom who provide the value.
Faivoir under Miss Heidi Palin looked particularly interesting off 130. There's something about the way female jockeys ride these competitive handicaps - they seem to find gaps that others miss. Meanwhile, Jazzy Matty and Emid'io Pepe both off 130 looked like they could outrun their marks if the pace was strong enough.
The Topham Handicap Chase was another cracker, with Il Est Francais heading the market off top weight. But in a field of 30 runners (after non-runners), it was very much a case of finding the right each-way angle. Gentleman de Mee under Mark Walsh looked solid each-way value, while Hitman with Freddie Gingell could be anything off his current mark.
Jockey and Trainer Combinations to Note
One thing that stood out throughout the evening was the quality of jockey bookings. When you see Harry Skelton on three different horses across the card, you know the connections are serious about their chances. The Skelton operation has been in red-hot form lately, and their horses always seem to run above themselves.
Jonathan Burke had four rides on the night, which tells you something about his rising profile in the weighing room. The way he's been riding lately suggests he's a jockey very much on the up, and his mounts are always worth a second look.
The presence of conditional and amateur riders in the final race shouldn't put anyone off either. Some of the best value bets come from these contests, where the 5lb or 7lb claim can make all the difference in a tight handicap.
Looking Ahead - Where Next for Tonight's Stars
The beauty of an evening like this is that it sets up the rest of the season beautifully. The winners from the Grade 1 contests will likely be heading to the big spring festivals, while the handicappers who ran well tonight will be ones to follow when they drop back to more realistic marks.
Keep a close eye on any horse that ran well in the Mildmay Novices' Chase - that's often a trial for the RSA at Cheltenham, and the form usually works out strongly. Similarly, the staying novice hurdlers from tonight's card could well pop up in the Albert Bartlett or even the Stayers' Hurdle if connections are feeling ambitious.
Friday night racing at Leicester might not have the glamour of a Saturday at Cheltenham, but for finding future winners and enjoying proper competitive racing, you'd struggle to beat it. Roll on next week's card - I'll be there with notebook at the ready.
