My old dad always said you could judge the quality of a racing day by whether it left you reaching for the form book rather than the remote control. Well, Wednesday's card at Newcastle had me scribbling notes well into the evening, and not just because I'd backed a few losers that needed explaining to the missus.
There's something about a May afternoon at Newcastle that gets the juices flowing. Perhaps it's the way the Northumberland countryside rolls away beyond the track, or maybe it's simply that we're hitting that sweet spot of the jumping season where the ground's riding properly and the horses are tuned up nicely. Either way, today's Newcastle racecard delivered the goods in spades.
The Feature Race Sets the Standard
The £25,000 Kauto The King Handicap Chase was always going to be the afternoon's centrepiece, and what a proper contest it shaped up to be. When you've got Etalon turning up with Harry Skelton in the saddle and a rating of 144, you know you're dealing with serious business. This horse has been knocking on the door of a big handicap win for months now, and the way he's been travelling in his races suggests it's more a case of when rather than if.
Hercule du Seuil provided the perfect foil with Harry Cobden doing the steering. At 142, he's no mug either, and these French-bred chasers often save their best for when the money's on the table. The tactical battle between the two Harrys was always going to be worth the entrance fee alone.
What caught my eye though was Light N Strike down the weights. James Bowen's been riding with real confidence lately, and this one's got course and distance form in the locker. At 135, he looked to have a proper each-way shout if the pace set up right.
Maiden Hurdle Throws Up Future Stars
The Racing to School Maiden Hurdle might have been worth 'only' ten grand to the winner, but these are often the races where you spot next season's stars hiding in plain sight. Lirone du Seuil caught the attention immediately – another from that du Seuil family that seems to breed winners like rabbits, and with Skelton again in the plate, you had to sit up and take notice.
But it was some of the unrated runners that really got the form student in me excited. Double Tiger with Sean Bowen aboard looked like he meant business in the preliminaries, and when the Bowen brothers are both on the card, you know they're not there for the fresh air. Bold Step is another I'll be keeping a close eye on – these James Bowen rides often improve significantly for their first proper test.
The Marathon Men Take Centre Stage
The novices' chase over three miles and a furlong was always going to sort the wheat from the chaff. Elysian Knight has been showing steady improvement over fences, and Sean Bowen's booking suggested connections fancied their chances. But my notebook had Storminhome heavily underlined – Skelton again, and this horse has been crying out for a proper test of stamina.
At the other end of the trip spectrum, Lightning Flash in the two-mile handicap chase looked absolutely primed for a big run. Sam Twiston-Davies doesn't travel north for the fun of it, and this horse has been running some eyecatching races in defeat lately.
Ones to Follow and Future Targets
If you're looking for horses to keep on side for the coming weeks, several jumped off the page today. Etalon, win or lose in the feature, looks ready for another crack at a valuable handicap – perhaps something like the Summer Cup at Market Rasen could be on the agenda.
Supreme Yeats in the closing Sky Sports Racing Handicap Hurdle is another I'll be following closely. The name alone suggests big-race aspirations, and Harry Skelton's presence in the saddle for what's essentially a staying handicap hurdle suggests there's more to come.
The mares' race threw up some interesting prospects too. Future Bucks has been running consistently without quite getting her head in front, but Gavin Sheehan's a canny pilot and she looks the type to improve again for this longer trip.
Looking Ahead
What struck me most about today's card was the depth of quality throughout. From the Class 2 feature right down to the mares' handicap hurdle, there were proper horses turning up with serious intentions. The jockey bookings told their own story – when you've got the Skelton, Bowen and Cobden operations all well represented, you know the prize money's worth chasing.
Several of today's runners look destined for bigger things as we head into the summer months. The staying handicap hurdlers will no doubt reappear at tracks like Cartmel and Perth, while the better chasers might well pop up in some of the valuable summer prizes that are becoming increasingly popular.
Newcastle continues to punch above its weight as a jumping venue, and days like today remind you why the northern tracks deserve more credit than they sometimes get. Proper racing on proper ground with proper horses – you can't ask for much more than that on a Wednesday afternoon in May.
