You may realise racing starts much earlier this afternoon, an attempt from ITV’s producers to try and get as many viewers to watch their coverage before an afternoon of World Cup football. To be fair it’s a great idea, and I’m sure they’ll get plenty more viewers for it. Racing has a huge amount of loyal supporters, who’ll watch it regardless of the time - but it’s integral to reach out to a wider audience in every way and hopefully it will benefit the sport.
The week’s been a quiet one, and it’s great to see the old Carlisle Bell and Cumberland Plate ran so competitively. Waarif won the Bell and I’m sure all the Middleham Park syndicate would’ve enjoyed a really special day getting their name amongst the many winners of the old race.
The big story this week was that Jockey Club racecourses will provide free meals for all racing staff at meetings. British horse racing employs thousands, it’s a tough and risky job and this news is fantastic for everyone involved. I know the racing community quite well, and there are so many people who make yards as successful as good as they are, and I always think they deserve much more credit than they get. We call top trainers geniuses and masters, but often it’s all those people behind the scenes that make the operation work – this imitative is a big boost for all involved in racing.
I am also wishing Archie Watson the very best of luck as Corinthia Knight goes in search of giving the yard their first Group One winner. I visited Saxon Gate a month after Archie started, and he’s always seemed to have such a precise knowledge of his horses and an incredible amount of races all over the world. For someone as well travelled and who knows global racing, it’s somewhat fitting that his first Group One could be in Canada. Good luck to him and his team.
Next week I am in Newmarket on a BHA Course, I look forward to sharing what I’ve been up to and potentially a few names to watch from the two stables I am visiting. This weekend is Northumberland Plate day, and Irish Derby day in Ireland – a quality day’s racing.
12:20 Newcastle
Ekhtiyaar makes his all-weather debut for Roger Varian, but I have absolutely no worries about the new surface as he trains on it at home – it could bring out his big potential. He’s not fired this year, having needed the run on return, and finding the ground a little too quick last time. I still think there’s more to come from him here, and in this weaker race I think he’ll take a fair bit of beating.
12:55 Newcastle
This is a really open race with the likes of Dream Of Dreams and Cardsharp in here but I think Top Score could be one to watch for Saeed Bin Suroor. He’s ran really good races over in Dubai and if he can transfer that here, then he’d have to have a serious chance. The six furlong trip should be fine for him and I hope he can come home on top.
1:10 Newmarket (Empress)
I was quite encouraged by the debut of Karl Burke’s Ellheidi and it’s interesting they’ve taken her up to a listed race on only her second start. She finished off really strongly behind the smart and more experienced New Winds, and with more improvement to come I think she can run a big race here.
1:30 Newcastle (Northumberland Vase)
I tipped The Grand Visir when he won at Haydock, and hopefully off only 4lb higher he can win again for Roger Charlton. He’s such a strong galloping horse and the longer trip seems to really benefit him, and I think there should be much more to come from him here. I expect him to progress quite far this season.
1:45 Newmarket (Criterion)
Another tricky race here with plenty of big chances, I like Tabarrak but my preference would be Dutch Connection who is a class act on his day. He was fourth in the Lockinge, beating some top horses, but couldn’t run his race when behind a few of these at Haydock. He’s better than that run and can take a step forward here.
2:05 Newcastle (Northumberland Plate)
This is always a cracking race and it promises to be brilliant once again with a very competitive field lining up. I quite fancy the chances of Lord George who relishes running on the all-weather and should make a bold bid after a very fruitful winter. He was last seen finishing second on all-weather finals day and the horse that narrowly beat him has subsequently franked the form. He appears very well handicapped here, and should run well.
As an each-way fancy take a look at Mark Johnston’s Time To Study. He’s been running consistently well in better races, and despite carrying a big weight he might be good enough to land this.
