Saturday Satisfaction at Towcester
What a grand afternoon we had at Towcester on Saturday! Seven races of proper National Hunt action on the easy side of good ground - exactly what the doctor ordered after a week of mixed weather. The Northamptonshire track served up its usual honest test, and by Jaysus, there were some performances that'll have you reaching for the notebook.
The Towcester racecard looked competitive on paper, and it delivered in spades. From a cracking opener to a feature chase that had everything, this was the sort of Saturday that reminds you why we love this game. The ground rode perfectly fair, no bias to speak of, and the jockeys were able to ride their races without worrying about the surface giving way.
Staffordshire Plate Takes Centre Stage
The £35,000 Staffordshire Plate over three miles was always going to be the day's talking point, and what a race it shaped up to be. Capodanno went off as the 150-rated favourite under Conor O'Farrell, and you'd have been brave to take him on with that sort of rating advantage in a Class 2 contest.
But here's the thing about handicap chases - ratings don't always tell the full story. Cruz Control at 139 looked dangerously well treated if Stan Sheppard could get him jumping, while the French import Horantzau d'Airy had that look of a horse who might just appreciate the step up in trip. Charlie Hammond's booking caught the eye there.
The real intrigue lay with Joyeux Machin for the Skelton team. At 137, he's no mug, but his best form has come on softer ground. Still, when Harry Skelton gets the leg up, you ignore it at your peril. The man's riding out of his skin this season.
Down at the weights, Calimystic represented serious each-way value at 128. Nico de Boinville doesn't rock up to Towcester on a Saturday afternoon for the craic - there was clearly something about this one that warranted the trip.
Maiden Hurdle Provides Future Stars
The National Hunt maiden over a mile and seven was one of those races where you're looking for the future rather than celebrating the present. Barry Fife caught the eye immediately - any horse making their debut with Jack Hogan aboard deserves respect, and the name suggests connections with a sense of humour.
Lexington Wood under Sean Bowen was another to note. Bowen's been in flying form, and his agent doesn't put him on no-hopers in maiden hurdles. The booking screamed confidence.
But the one that really got the juices flowing was Trigg for Harry Skelton. The 'D' next to his name suggests he's been disappointing on the flat, but that often means nothing over hurdles. Some horses just need to see a hurdle to find their calling, and with the Skelton magic touch, this could be one to follow through the winter months.
Handicap Hurdles Serve Up Competitive Action
The Class 3 handicap hurdle over two and a half miles looked a proper puzzle. Whatsupwithyou topped the weights at 126, but Elliott England's booking suggested connections fancied their chances despite the burden.
Last Kingdom and Sir Galahad both carried 125, making this a real test of who wanted it most. But the value play had to be Crebilly at 120. Benjamin Macey's been riding with real confidence lately, and this horse has always threatened to put it all together.
The novice handicap hurdle finale threw up some interesting angles too. Coolkatie and Shinealight both carried top weight at 100, but Good Boy Griff at 97 for Sean Bowen looked the type to appreciate the longer trip. Sometimes it's not about the weight, it's about finding the right race at the right time.
Ones to Follow and Looking Ahead
From today's action, several horses deserve a place in the notebook for future reference. Any winner from the maiden hurdle division will be worth following - these early season maidens often produce useful sorts who can go through the grades.
In the handicap ranks, keep a close eye on anything that ran well but didn't quite get there today. Towcester's a fair track that doesn't flatter horses, so anything showing up well here will have genuine ability.
The step up in trip seemed to suit several runners, particularly in the longer chases. With the season starting to hit its stride, we'll likely see many of these horses pop up at tracks like Uttoxeter and Bangor in the coming weeks.
Looking at the jockey bookings, it was clear the big guns were taking this card seriously. When you've got Skelton, Bowen, and Sheehan all making the trip to Towcester, you know there's decent prize money and competitive racing on offer.
Saturday's Verdict
All in all, this was Towcester at its best - honest racing on good ground with competitive fields throughout the card. The feature chase lived up to its billing, the maidens provided plenty of future interest, and the handicaps were as competitive as you'd want.
The ground held up brilliantly throughout the afternoon, which bodes well for the rest of the season. There's nothing worse than seeing good horses pulled up because the surface has gone, but today everyone got a fair crack at it.
Mark your cards for the horses that caught the eye today - something tells me we'll be seeing several of them in winners' enclosures before too long. And if you backed any of the outsiders who ran well, don't be afraid to follow them up next time. Towcester doesn't lie, and a good run here is often the precursor to better things ahead.
