A Grand Evening's Entertainment at Somerset's Finest
Well now, what a lovely way to spend a Saturday evening down at Wincanton. While the purists might turn their noses up at flat racing on Somerset's premier jumping track, I'll tell you what – there's nothing quite like a competitive evening card to separate the wheat from the chaff. Eight races of honest endeavour on good to firm ground, with just enough give in places to keep the connections happy and the punters guessing.
The watering that was taking place during the going readings tells its own story – they're looking after this track like a prized heifer, and rightly so. At 43% soil moisture, we had conditions that would suit the speedier types while still giving the stamina-laden horses a chance to get their toe in.
The Feature Attraction: Class 4 Handicaps Steal the Show
If you're looking for the meat and potatoes of this evening's fare, you needn't look beyond the two Class 4 handicaps that bookended the serious business. The 7pm sprint over six furlongs was a proper cavalry charge with sixteen runners all rated between 69 and 80 – now that's what I call a competitive handicap.
Kesta topped the weights at 80, and with Kaiya Fraser doing the steering, you'd have been brave to dismiss her chances. But in a race this tight, it's often the improving sort lurking down the bottom that catches the eye. Grey Horizon off 69 looked potentially well-treated, while Powder Monkey for the Callan brothers could have been the each-way thief of the day.
The fillies' handicap at 8pm was equally intriguing, with just nine runners but plenty of quality. Jakarta has been knocking on the door lately, and with Lewis Edmunds claiming his 7lb, she looked the percentage call. But keep an eye on Come On Eibhlin – there's improvement in that one, mark my words.
Ones to Follow: The Progressive Types
Right, let's get to the good stuff – the horses that caught this old hack's eye for future reference. In the opening handicap, Distant Rumble has course and distance form and the booking of Jack Callan suggests connections fancy their chances. But it's Capote's Dream that interests me more – rated 62 but with the feel of a horse going the right way.
From the maiden stakes, any winner will be worth noting for next time out. Empire Rising and Greek Street looked the pick on paper, but in these restricted maidens, it's often the unconsidered one that springs a surprise and goes on to better things.
The mile and a quarter handicap threw up some fascinating angles. Galba at the top of the weights looked solid enough, but Thomas Picton off a featherweight 58 could be the steal of the day if the handicapper has got it wrong. Rose Dawes taking the ride suggests there's confidence in the camp.
Jockey and Trainer Combinations Worth Noting
Speaking of jockeys, it's worth keeping tabs on some of the partnerships that caught my attention. The Callan brothers – Jack and Neil – had plenty of ammunition across the card, and when those lads are busy at a meeting, they usually know something the rest of us don't.
Finley Marsh was another with a strong book of rides, particularly Royal Bodyguard in the mile handicap and Marengo Storm in the big sprint. When a jockey gets multiple decent rides from different yards, it usually means they're riding with confidence.
Paddy Bradley's presence always adds a bit of Irish flair to proceedings, and his mount Romantic Twilight in the feature race looked each-way value at the very least. There's something about the way these Irish lads ride a finish that just gets the blood pumping.
The Supporting Cast: Don't Overlook the Outsiders
The longer distance handicaps at the end of the card often throw up the biggest surprises, and Saturday's finale over a mile and three furlongs looked wide open. Midnight Media topped the weights, but in a race like this, it's often the forgotten horse at the bottom of the handicap that comes good.
Von Dutch and Darkest Red both looked interesting at their respective weights, while N'Ion off a basement mark of 40 could be the ultimate punt for the brave. Sometimes these evening meetings throw up the most unlikely winners – horses that have been campaigning all season finally getting their day in the sun.
Looking Ahead: Where Next for These Gallopers?
The beauty of a competitive evening card like this is that it often sets up the horses perfectly for their next assignments. Any winner from the Class 4 handicaps will likely be targeted at similar contests at tracks like Salisbury, Windsor, or back here at Wincanton later in the season.
The maiden winners, meanwhile, will be stepping up into handicap company for the first time – always a fascinating transition to watch. Keep your notebooks handy and your eyes peeled, because today's maiden winner could be next month's handicap hero.
All in all, a grand evening's entertainment in Somerset. The flat season might not get the heart racing like a good chase at Cheltenham, but there's honest sport to be had and money to be made for those with their wits about them. Until the jumps return properly, this'll do us just grand.
