2024 Race Preview
Written by Peter Burgon
PETER WILL KINDLY BE PRESENTING MAIN SPONSORS WITH A PRE-RACE TALK AT 1:30PM
All roads lead to Hexham Racecourse on Saturday 18th May for the Luxe Automotive-Haydon fixture, the grand finale of the Northern Area Point-to-Point season, which has attracted a bumper total of 110 entries on a seven race card starting at 2.00pm.
The main action is preceded at 1.00pm by 2 pony races sponsored by DJ & SJ Recycling. They have attracted a total of 12 entries, including Welsh raider Greenbarrow Goldsmith who won at Corbridge last month and Judge Fox who is seeking his 10th win in the last two seasons.
FIRST RACE
EAGLES ROCK
The WMH Quality Catering Conditions Race has 17 entries and should chiefly concern Ask Cory, Eagles Rock, El Presente and Nick Lost.
The one to beat is Eagles Rock ridden by John Dawson who is on a hat-trick following comfortable wins at Overton and Corbridge. Well treated by the race conditions, the progressive 6-year-old receives 7lb from 2023 Corbridge winner Ask Cory who scored twice at Friars Haugh earlier this term before chasing home Oscar Wilde when stepped up in grade at Corbridge. Proven stayer El Presente won at Dalton Park in March, while front-runner Nick Lost was only collared near the finish by Inviction at Overton last month.
FOURTH RACE
LOUGHAN
The ultra-consistent Loughan (Gina Andrews), who has won 9 and been placed 6 times in 17 Pointing starts including a 2m4f Maiden success at Hexham in November 2021, can complete a five-timer off level weights in the 2m4f Graham Reader Motor Engineer Ladies Open Race (13 entries).
His main rivals are locally trained Fightfortheroses (Charlotte Tailford, riding for the Haydon) who posted a season's best effort when scoring at Witton Castle last time and Batman For Ever.
The latter, trained by Stuart Coltherd, completed a four-timer in France in 2021 and appreciated the drop in class when scoring at Overton last month.
SEVENTH RACE
YOU NAME HIM
Quite a few of the 15 entries for the concluding Lycetts Conditions Race hold other options on the card and it may pay to side with four-time winning hurdler You Name Him who caught the eye when 3rd at Witton Castle on his first start for twelve months.
Possible rivals include long distance travellers El Presente, One For Billy and Young Rich, along with the Northern Area trio of Kingrullah, Nick Lost and Not The Chablis.
SECOND RACE
SELECTIVELISTENING
The 3m High Plains Maiden Race has 18 entries and, on paper, looks a wide-open contest. Formerly trained in Ireland by Colin Bowe, Selectivelistening is a potential dark horse on his first start for Gina Andrews.
Others to note are Easter Glory, Shantou's Temple and Southern raider Whatchagotder who have all been placed in either Maiden or Restricted company this season.
In-form Jack Teal has partnered 6 winners from his last 11 rides on horses trained at his Malton yard and 7-year-old debutant Kings Charger also merits serious consideration.
FIFTH RACE
OSCAR WILDE
After winning with a bit in hand at Corbridge and Overton, Batman For Ever's stable companion Oscar Wilde can complete a hat-trick under a 5lb penalty in the featured JS Hubbuck Ltd Maling Trophy Mixed Open Race.
The pick of the other 14 entries are Alnwick specialist Dundrum Wood, Buster Valentine who is chasing a fourth Open Race victory in six starts this term, and the consistent Kingrullah who kept on well when four lengths 2nd to Fightfortheroses at Witton Castle.
THIRD RACE
TRUST ME NATE
The 17 entries for the 2m4f Jacksons of Hexham Maiden Race include 4-year-old newcomers Arnie and Blue Topaz.
The former is related to multiple jumps winners, while Fran & Charlie Poste's Warwickshire raider Blue Topaz is related to multiple winners on the Flat and over jumps in France. Of the others, ex-Irish hurdler Trust Me Nate (runner-up at Friars Haugh and Corbridge) and She Is The Enemy (runner-up at Overton) should again be in the mix along with Geordies Secret (Gina Andrews) who shaped well when 4th on debut at Garthorpe three weeks ago and might be suited by the drop in trip.
SIXTH RACE
CAN WE KEEP HIM
Recent Maiden winners Whats The Solution, Pop The Question and Can We Keep Him figure amongst the 15 entries for the Insync Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic Restricted Race in which Shropshire raider Bestfriend Barnaby, who was just touched off by Courting Flow at Alnwick in January, is top-rated.
This contest is also an option for Easter Glory and Shantou's Temple, while Henry's Regime also enters calculations if reproducing the level of form shown when runner-up to Eagles Rock at Corbridge.
Top Tips & Inside Scoop
You can find further information and story telling on our Facebook & Instagram page: @Haydonp2p
CHARLOTTE TAILFORD
Charlotte Tailford is no stranger to Haydon P2P or the Haydon hunting field. Our committee were incredibly proud to hear of her win at Zetland P2P last week and wish her the very best of luck on our own track this coming Saturday.
Charlotte has two lovely horses running: Famous and Rosie. Rosie is a favourite to follow over rails on a Winter Saturday.
𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗨𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗘
"I'm thinking the ground should suit him and he has had 3 weeks from his last run, so I hope for a decent race from him."
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘣𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘯𝘪𝘱
𝗙𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗦
"He ran a cracker last time out last weekend so hopefully he can run a good race again this weekend, however he’s dropping back in trip to 2m 4f."
𝘈 𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘣𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳
"Famous Response and Fightfortheroses both relish from hunting with the Haydon through out the season. When not hunting they enjoy hacking around the farm and going up our local gallops through the week."
JOHN DAWSON
A famous face amongst P2P racing, John Dawson - winner of the Cheltenham Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase 2024
John is currently on 199 winners and will be looking to make his 200th win happen at Hexham tomorrow! He is booked on some brilliant rides, including Eagles Rock, who has already claimed the Northern Area Novice Horse Championship for 2024!
If John can claim a hat-rick of wins tomorrow, he will celebrate a phenomenal 250 career winners! With 199 already on his card and 48 wins under rules.
Post war, there is only one other Yorkshire based jockey ridden more winners than John!
John is currently in 9th place in the National Men's Championship.
We are delighted to have John riding with us today and wish he and his team the very best of luck.
GINA ANDREWS
Gina Andrews is an incredibly talented P2P jockey - you may have heard her name in the Grand National earlier this Spring, where she flew round in the front pack on Latenightpass.
We are excited to see her in action today, with 4 horses entered.
3 more winners will see Gina hit an unbelievable 400 P2P career wins! (This does not include wins under rules... she smashed that target in 2022!) We would love to see this happen at Hexham today and wish Gina and her team the best of luck.
In 2022, Gina became British P2P's winning most lady rider in history!
In the 2023-2024 Ladies Championship league, Gina has snuck down into second place, 2 points behind the leader. A tip for the punters... she will certainly be on the hunt for big points today with the rides she's entered, to regain her the championship title.
OVERALL POINTS LEAGUES
Today we host the Northern Area league finale for the season. A presentation for winners will be made at Northern Area P2P party on Friday 28th June - tickets are available from Sean Tasker-Brown (See page 59 in the race card).
It's also the season finale for the PRA Pony Racing points league - a presentation will be made following the 2 Haydon DJ & SJ pony races today, to the winning children.
You can use the links below to view the National Points Leagues - Take note of the names in the Ladies, Mens & Novice Jockey championships as they'll be here today searching for those last competitive points!