Friday Night Lights at Leicester
There's something rather magical about evening racing at Leicester, isn't there? Perhaps it's the way the floodlights catch the steam rising from the horses as they pull up, or maybe it's simply that Friday feeling when the working week's done and we can settle in with a pint to watch some proper jumps racing. My old dad used to say that Leicester on a Friday evening was where you'd spot next season's stars having their final tune-ups, and judging by today's card, the old boy wasn't far wrong.
The good ground played its part beautifully tonight, allowing the horses to show their true colours without having to battle through the mud. Seven races spanning novice hurdles to a bumper finale – it was the sort of varied card that reminds you why we love this game so much.
The Feature Race: Brewin'upastorm Shows His Class
The £12,000 Hatfields Jaguar Land Rover Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles was always going to be the evening's centrepiece, and what a contest it shaped up to be. With eleven runners headed by the Sean Bowen-ridden Brewin'upastorm off a mark of 139, this looked like a proper test of staying power.
Brewin'upastorm has been knocking on the door in better company this season, and you couldn't help but feel this drop back to Class 3 level might be exactly what the doctor ordered. The way Sean Bowen was talking pre-race suggested confidence, and when you've got Rambo T (rated 136) and Fingal's Hill (130) in the mix, you know you're watching horses who could easily step back up to graded level.
The presence of Harry Cobden on Last Kingdom caught my eye too – when the champion jockey makes the trip to Leicester on a Friday evening, you sit up and take notice. At a rating of 125, Last Kingdom looked to have each-way claims at the very least.
Ones to Follow: Progressive Types Catching the Eye
If there's one thing I've learned from four decades of watching horses, it's that Leicester evening meetings are where trainers bring their improvers for one final educational run before the big time. Tonight was no exception.
In the opener, Road To Wembley looked the class act among the novice hurdlers. Sean Bowen in the saddle again, rated 120, and stepping up in trip – all the signs pointed to a horse ready to make his mark. The Bowen brothers were having quite the evening, with James partnering Jet Renegade in the same race. When you see those two lads riding against each other, you know there'll be no quarter given.
The mares' handicap hurdle threw up some intriguing prospects too. My Chiquita, despite being top-rated at 122, looked to have more to offer, particularly with the talented Leah Noreci taking the reins. But it was Magical Maggie, rated 117 with Ciaran Gethings up, who caught my notebook – the sort of rating that suggests there's improvement to come.
Over the larger obstacles, Genois in the Class 3 chase looked particularly interesting. Harry Cobden doesn't make many poor choices, and at a mark of 126, this one could easily find himself in Pattern company before long. The way he's been finishing his races suggests the step up in trip might unlock further improvement.
The Supporting Cast: Depth Throughout the Card
What struck me most about tonight's action was the genuine depth of quality throughout the seven-race programme. Even the closing bumper, with sixteen runners including the intriguingly-named Well This Won't Do under Mr Paddy Barlow, had that feel of a race where future stars might emerge.
The amateur riders' race is always worth watching closely – it's where you'll often spot horses being given a gentle introduction before being handed over to the professionals. Call Me Ken and Briskalo both shaped like horses who'll be winning under Rules before too long.
The Mental Health Awareness Week handicap hurdle deserves a mention too, not just for its worthy cause but for the quality of horse on show. Jamada, top-rated at 109 under Sean Bowen, looked the type who could step up markedly from this level. Sometimes these late-evening handicaps can be deceptive – the ratings might look modest, but the horses are often much better than their marks suggest.
Looking Ahead: Where Next for Tonight's Stars?
As the evening drew to a close and the last of the runners were being loaded into their boxes, thoughts inevitably turned to where we might see these horses next. The beauty of a Leicester Friday evening is that you're often watching horses at a crossroads in their careers.
Brewin'upastorm, assuming he ran to form, looks ready for a crack at some of the better staying hurdles through the summer months. Aintree's Mildmay Novices' Chase in April might not be out of reach if connections fancy a switch to fences.
Road To Wembley, if he justified favouritism in the opener, could easily find himself lining up for one of the better novice hurdles at the summer festivals. There's something about a horse with 'Wembley' in his name that suggests big-race ambitions.
The real joy of evenings like this is that in six months' time, you'll be watching one of tonight's runners in a Grade 1 somewhere, and you'll remember that Friday evening at Leicester when you first thought 'this one's a bit special.' That's the magic of our sport – every meeting, every race, might just produce the next superstar.
Until next time, keep your eyes peeled and your notebooks handy. You never know when lightning might strike.
