A Summer Monday Over The Sticks — Don't Let Anyone Tell You It's Not Worth Watching

Right then. It's a Monday in July, the flat brigade are probably sipping Pimm's somewhere and looking down their noses, but here we are on the Newcastle track for a cracking little six-race jumps card that deserves your full attention. Six races, a decent spread of prize money thanks to those GBB bonuses, and a going description of Good to Firm, Good in places — which basically means it's about as close to 50:50 as you'll get. Not bone-dry, not soft underfoot. It's fair racing ground, and that matters enormously when you're picking through these fields. Check out the full Newcastle racecard before you part with a penny, and let's get stuck in.

The ground is the first conversation you need to have with yourself today. Good to Firm on a summer jumping card at Newcastle suits your athletic, fluent jumper — the sort that travels well through a race rather than grinding it out. Anything that needs cut in the ground to show its best form is going to be working against the conditions today. Bear that in mind as we go through the card, because it'll shape a few of my selections.

The Feature Race: William Hill Handicap Chase (16:42, 3m 1f 170y)

The race I've circled in red marker is the William Hill Handicap Steeple Chase at 16:42 — three miles and a furlong of jumping over Newcastle's fences, £11k on the table, and five runners that each carry a genuine story. This is your feature, your banker-hunter, your pub debate race. Let's have it.

Muskerry Rock (7yo, rated 115) is the one they'll all be talking about. Dan Skelton sends him north with Harry Skelton in the saddle, and that combination has been firing all summer long. A seven-year-old at the peak of his powers, rated 115 — he's got class to burn in this company. The going suits him fine; Skelton horses tend to be well-schooled and fluent, and on a surface like this you want a horse that meets its fences right. I'd be surprised if Harry doesn't have him travelling sweetly from the off.

But here's where I get interesting for you. Presentandcounting is a twelve-year-old — yes, twelve — rated 117 and top-weight for Donald McCain. Now, I know what you're thinking. Twelve years of age in July, good to firm ground, three miles — are you mad, Tom? Maybe. But this horse is rated higher than anything else in the race, McCain knows how to place a veteran, and Theo Gillard is a capable young rider who won't be intimidated. The question is whether those old legs want the ground. If he's been freshened up for this and the trainer fancies it, don't dismiss him at a price.

Belgarum (8yo, rated 105) carries the [C,D] badge — course and distance winner — for Joe Tizzard, and Freddie Gingell takes the ride. That course and distance form is never to be sniffed at. He knows every inch of this track, he's won over this trip, and on decent summer ground he could outrun his rating. He's the each-way shout if the market opens him up.

Key Runners To Watch Across The Card

14:42 — Handicap Chase Opener: Gore Point The One To Beat

Only three runners in the opener but don't let that fool you into thinking it's a foregone conclusion. Gore Point (6yo, rated 109) carries the [C,D] flag and has Sam Twiston-Davies aboard for Anthony Honeyball. Course and distance winner, top-rated, experienced jockey — he ticks every box I care about. On good to firm ground over two miles, he should be travelling well and jumping fluently. The only danger is the unexposed Manyana Blue, a four-year-old rated 101 with Luke Scott in the saddle for the Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole combination. Four-year-olds in chases can be raw, but they can also be frighteningly good if they've got the engine. Watch the market on this one — if Manyana Blue is backed with confidence, something is known. James Turner takes the ride on Miss Denver (rated 86) who looks to be making up the numbers on these weights, but you never fully write off a Twiston-Davies yard runner on their day.

15:12 — Maiden Hurdle: Skelton's Bumper Graduate Could Be Special

The maiden hurdle at 15:12 is only four runners but it's got a fascinating shape to it. Jasper Glory is unrated — a four-year-old from Dan Skelton's yard with Harry Skelton riding. No official mark means we're guessing at ability, but Skelton doesn't send horses north on a Monday without believing they're ready to win. If this horse has shown anything promising at home, the good to firm ground on a flat-ish summer track could be ideal for a first-time hurdler with a bit of pace about them.

God of Fire (6yo, rated 100) is the one with the rating, trained by Jonjo O'Neill with Jonjo O'Neill Jr. in the saddle. Father and son combination, rated 100 in a maiden — he should have more than enough quality to win this if right. But maiden hurdles have a habit of throwing up a surprise, and I wouldn't be staking the mortgage on anything here.

15:42 — The Big Handicap Hurdle: Twelve Runners, One Clear Eye

Twelve runners in the Class 5 handicap hurdle and this is where you earn your money as a punter. The ratings span from 95 (Renoir) down to 72 (Anothermanicmonday), and the good to firm ground is going to separate the stayers from the plodders quickly enough. Get The Value (8yo, rated 92) carries the [C,D] mark for John O'Shea — course and distance winner, knows the track, and Kielan Woods is a reliable pilot. Saucats (5yo, rated 82) also has the [C,D] flag for Joe Tickle — a young, lightly-raced horse that's proven it can handle this course and trip. On decent summer ground, a five-year-old with upside could outperform its rating.

Going Conditions: Who Does The Ground Suit?

Let me be straight with you: Good to Firm, Good in places in mid-July is not extreme. It's not the baked-hard stuff that makes you wince watching horses land over fences. But it does reward athleticism over attrition. Horses that want to gallop freely, jump with confidence, and don't need to be scrubbing along through deep ground — those are your friends today. Anything in the form book that's shown its best form on soft or heavy? Park it. Anything that's won on good ground or better, that travels well through a race? That's your shortlist.

The 3m+ feature chase is the one where ground matters most. Over that trip, a horse that's economical through its races — not wasting energy — will have more left in the tank up the home straight. That's another reason Muskerry Rock appeals: Skelton horses are schooled to be slick and efficient.

Best Bets & Ones To Watch — Tom's Summary

  • BEST BET: Muskerry Rock (16:42) — Harry Skelton, Dan Skelton, rated 115, good ground. The formula writes itself. Take the price early.
  • EACH-WAY SHOUT: Belgarum (16:42) — Course and distance winner, Joe Tizzard knows this horse, Freddie Gingell is improving. Capable of outrunning his mark at 105.
  • OPENER NAP: Gore Point (14:42) — Sam Twiston-Davies on a [C,D] horse rated 109. Three runners, top weight, top jockey. Should go close.
  • ONE TO WATCH: Jasper Glory (15:12) — Unraced over hurdles but Harry Skelton doesn't make unnecessary trips. If they've backed it, follow the money.
  • BUMPER INTEREST: Park Hall (17:15) — Another [C,D] runner for the Skelton yard in the closing bumper. Dan Skelton has had a phenomenal summer and this horse has already proven it handles Newcastle. Don't ignore it.

It's a Monday in July and some people will tell you jumps racing in summer is a poor man's sport. Those people have never had a winner at Newcastle on a warm afternoon with a cold pint in hand. Get the Newcastle racecard pulled up, do your homework, and enjoy the racing. Good luck — you'll need some of it, but knowledge helps more.