Monday Magic at Colwick Park
Fair play to Nottingham for serving up a proper feast of National Hunt action on what could have been another dreary Monday evening. Seven races of varying quality, but by God, there was enough substance here to keep any jumping enthusiast glued to the form book well into the night.
The vertidrained ground was riding a treat after recent work, and you could see the horses relishing the better surface. Nothing worse than watching good horses struggle through bottomless going when a bit of proper maintenance can make all the difference. Credit where it's due - the groundstaff have done their homework here.
But let's not beat around the bush - this was all about the two Class 2 features, and what a pair of contests they shaped up to be. The Sussex Champion Chase and Sussex National both carried serious prize money and attracted fields that wouldn't look out of place at a Saturday meeting.
Edwardstone Shows His Class in Feature
The 14:35 Sussex Champion Handicap Chase was the jewel in the crown, and with Edwardstone topping the weights off a mark of 151, you knew this was serious business. Tom Cannon taking the ride tells you everything about the respect this horse still commands, even at this stage of his career.
Now, I've been banging the drum for this lad since his novice days, and while he might not be the force he once was, class is permanent. That rating of 151 isn't handed out like free pints at a brewery tour - you earn every pound of it. The fact he's still turning up at tracks like Nottingham shows the connections haven't lost faith.
Matterhorn looked the obvious danger with Jay Tidball in the saddle, rated just 5lb lower but potentially on an upward curve. These are the sort of races where a progressive sort can make hay against a former champion who might just be starting to show his age. Secret des Dieux at 138 represented each-way value if the pace fell apart, but in a field of five, tactics were always going to be crucial.
The beauty of handicap chasing is that on any given day, any horse can have their moment. But when push comes to shove, I'll always lean towards proven class, and Edwardstone has it in spades.
Sussex National Provides Staying Test
The 16:25 Sussex National over three miles and four furlongs was where the real stayers got to strut their stuff. Transmission heading the market made perfect sense - Harry Atkins knows his way around a staying chase, and that mark of 137 suggests we're dealing with a horse who's been mixing it in decent company.
But here's where it gets interesting for the future. Largy Poet off 132 with Jay Tidball is exactly the sort of progressive stayer who could be heading for bigger things. These April meetings are often where the Aintree and Punchestown horses of next year start to announce themselves.
Rivers Corner with Brendan Powell caught my eye too. Powell doesn't take rides for the fun of it, and at 130, this horse could be well treated if connections have been patient. The staying game is all about timing and patience - rush a horse and you'll ruin him, but get it right and you've got a weapon for the big spring festivals.
Ones to Follow from the Supporting Cast
The novices' handicap hurdle threw up some fascinating angles. Percy Shelley and Minella Jury heading the market suggested two yards confident their charges were ready to step up. But in these competitive novice events, it's often the one coming from left field who provides the fireworks.
Tennessee Tango with Brendan Powell again - there's a pattern forming here - looked overpriced in the betting. Course and distance winner already, which counts for plenty around Nottingham's unique track. The Powell family don't send horses on long journeys for the exercise.
Jockey Bookings Tell the Story
Speaking of patterns, Tom Cannon's treble of rides across the card was no coincidence. When a jockey of his caliber is prepared to schlep to Nottingham on a Monday, you know there's serious money behind the horses. His mount in the maiden hurdle, Answer That, looked particularly interesting given the lack of a rating suggests a horse making his debut over timber.
Sam Twiston-Davies picking up three rides including the unrated Kamille Au Kanada in the bumper suggests the Seven Barrows team see potential in their string. These National Hunt flat races are all about education and future planning - today's bumper winner is next season's novice hurdler.
Caoilin Quinn's multiple bookings across the card show a jockey in demand, particularly his ride on Kotmask in the feature chase. Sometimes the value lies with the lesser lights when the big names are focused elsewhere.
Looking Ahead - Where Next?
The beauty of a card like this Nottingham racecard is that it provides a perfect stepping stone for horses with bigger ambitions. The winners here will be eyeing up the summer festivals, while the placed horses might find themselves at tracks like Bangor or Cartmel looking to get their heads in front.
For the staying chasers, this was ideal preparation for next season's big handicaps. The Grand National might be a distant dream, but races like the Welsh National or the Midlands National could be realistic targets for horses who've shown they can stay the trip in competitive company.
The novice hurdlers from the 15:45 contest will likely pop up at tracks like Uttoxeter and Warwick through the summer, learning their trade before the serious business begins again in October. It's all about the bigger picture in this game - today's Nottingham winner could be next year's Cheltenham Festival runner.
All in all, a cracking Monday's entertainment that reminded us why National Hunt racing remains the most compelling sport on earth. When horses like Edwardstone are still turning up to do battle with the next generation, you know the sport is in rude health. Roll on the next one.
