The Inside Track – February 2025
The month got off to a flyer with The Kalooki Kid putting on a display ahead of his years to take the Scottish Champion Chase at Musselburgh. His assured jumping allowed him to travel smoothly track the pace throughout and put the race to bed when asked, pulling clear of Saint Segal who has since franked the form with a solid 3rd at Newbury. There will be a lot of options for him this spring in valuable handicaps.
Another with a big spring target in mind is La Zoubida, who went on from a highly encouraging debut to take a Mares bumper at Market Rasen. The Grade 2 at Aintree could now be on the agenda.
Whilst the novices and bumper horses thrived, importantly so did the veterans with Kajaki putting in his usual consistent display at Sedgefield. Only finding one at a big price too good, he’ll keep knocking on the door to add to his win tally.
Red Cadillac is certainly one to follow in his next few starts, travelling well throughout but outstayed by a fairly dour type on worsening ground. A truly run handicap up to 2 1/2 miles on decent ground will likely see him at his best.
Ayr was the venue for a couple of runner up rosettes, with the promising Baratablet building on his bumper debut with an excellent first go over hurdles and Sunnyvilla backing up his Haydock win with another good showing. The latter perhaps over raced a little in front and is well fancied to add to his tally soon.
Perhaps the most eye-catching performance of the month came from debutant Upon Tweed who looked smart in dismantling a Newcastle bumper which looked pretty deep on paper beforehand. He looks an ideal type for the geldings Aintree bumper and could well follow in the footsteps of Florida Dreams in tasting success there.
Another well regarded debutant was seen on track for the first time at Kelso, with Japetus showing plenty chasing home a favourite who was able to quicken off his own slow pace. He has an obvious chance of going one better next time.
At Haydock, Famous Bridge made amends for his unseat in the Grand National Trial 12 months ago in fine style. Travelling equally powerfully, mistakes were kept to a minimum and from out of the handicap put in a career best to put his stamp on the race. With the modern National being so tough to get into these days, Aintree is not an option this year but a big effort in either the Scottish or Irish counterpart could be enough to set him up for a tilt in 2026 all being well. With the ground usually being softer at Fairyhouse than Ayr in the spring and the additional gap that the late Easter brings this year, an Irish raid would be interesting option.
Such an attempt may gain compensation for Ruby Island, who has made an excellent start to life at Greystoke with another second place to an Irish trained visitor in as many starts. With her finishing so powerfully, any step up to 3 miles would make her even more of an interest as a betting prospect – both bred and seemingly racing like it would suit perfectly.
Young Getaway returned to Newcastle to pick up a deserved first victory, with the drop back in trip no problem to him. He’ll be competitive in handicaps but it’ll be over fences that we’ll likely see him at his very best – looking ever inch the chaser and one to follow closely next season.
The Best Way had shaped with plenty of promise in his novice starts and after a 9-month absence made the Newcastle trip a fruitful one for the team by staying on to take victory in only his second handicap start. This lays a platform for an exciting spring campaign for connections.
Another to have shown his yard in the best possible light had been Gege Ville after he returned from a long absence to win first time out at Haydock last December and given a good break ran just as well to finish behind the thriving The Jewller’s Pet.
In a spell chocked full of highlights, another encouraging run came from Florida Dreams who finished a creditable 5th in the valuable Morebattle hurdle at Kelso. 2 miles on a sharp track like Kelso is right at his limit in terms of speed and it’ll be a shock if he doesn’t manage to land a good handicap soon. Both Aintree and Sandown will offer ideal options and you’d probably be on the right side of the bet in fancying the yard to pick out the perfect one for him.
Star Performer: Famous Bridge would be an obvious selection, with a powerful display in the Grand National Trial setting him up for a big run at Ayr or Fairyhouse but Upon Tweed looked like he could be a little out of the ordinary in his Newcastle bumper win.
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