All-weather attracts all eyes with £1.7m bonanza up for grabs
To appreciate just how far all-weather racing has come since its badmouthed launch in 1989, one only has to look at today’s racing programme.
It’s their flagship day, with Newcastle staging the All-Weather Championship Finals; Lingfield catering for those horses not quite good enough to make the big gig; and Chelmsford picking up the pieces.
In all, there are getting on for 300 horses bidding for a slice of £1.7m total prize money across the three venues, the majority of which is up for grabs on a fabulous Newcastle card featuring numerous high-class handicappers and even Classic hopefuls.
Six of the seven races are handicap finals, but first up is the Burradon Stakes, unconnected to the prime narrative of the show, but more than just a warm-up act.
In 2018 it was won by Gronkowski, who went on to finish runner-up in a US classic, while last year’s winner, Dear My Friend, is back here later in the afternoon as the highest rated Flat horse ever to run on Newcastle’s all-weather track, apart from the champion stayer Trueshan.
Six of today’s nine runners hold classic entries, including Orne (2000 Guineas) and Room Service (Irish 2000), but they might have to go some to stop Godolphin’s unbeaten Silent Age.
Dear My Friend ran in the Derby after his Burradon victory, but didn’t figure there, or elsewhere, until returning to the all-weather at the start of this year and running up a hat-trick.
The handicapper has taken no chances with Charlie Johnston’s gelding, but he made light work of beating the reopposing McLean House and Kingdom Come at Lingfield
last time and his fine run may not be over yet.
The £200k Easter Classic is the richest race of the afternoon and has attracted smart sorts from Ireland (Elegant Man, Freescape and Star Harbour) and France (Hooking).
Ireland’s record at this fixture is nothing to write home about – just one winner from 22 runners – but France have done well down the years (six from 26).
Hooking is a fascinating visitor, the winner of his last two starts at Cagnes-Sur-Mer and, just like his owner, France striker Antoine Griezmann, it would be foolish to underestimate him.
Still, he will have his work cut out against Oh So Grand. It’s not just what this exciting filly has done on her last three starts (one win here and two at Lingfield), but the way she has done it. Her potent late turn of speed is rare over middle-distances and has impressed trainer Simon Crisford so much that he claims she is a Group winner in waiting.