Redcar Races, October 2026
*Partial webpage, races one, two, four and five in focus only*
The seaside venue of Redcar prepared to wrap up their season in 2026 with this final meeting of the year. As punters from the local area and further afield reminisced about the action that had taken place throughout the season, there would also be a chance to look ahead to the future with a string of novice races that offered the potential to showcase a future star for next year.
There would be an autumnal feel to the fixture too as the clocks had reverted an hour, the days were getting shorter and the aftermath of Storm Austen left most of the country shrouded in rain. Despite the far from pleasant conditions, it wouldn't stop the hardiest souls from the North East attending the day's action.
Race One: The Watch Live Racing On RacingTV British EBF Novice Stakes - 2-y-o Only - Seven Furlongs - Runners:
The opening contest promised to be an insightful one with a bunch of juveniles looking to bag an end of the season success with the view of progressing higher next year. The ground conditions at this time of the year can often bring stamina into the equation, so these youngsters would need to be brave and determined in order to feature here. Last year, this race would go the way of the Karl Burke-trained Skiathos, who had shown promise on his previous start when second at Redcar. It would be his last start however as he tragically lost his life at the start of this year.
This year's renewal would be headed by the first of the previous winners, Marhaba Athmani from the James Tate stable. The son of New Bay comes from a very smart family and showed plenty of inexperience on his debut at Yarmouth recently. He would overcome that and win nicely, so looked to be a good prospect for the future. He had to give weight away in this contest to the maidens, which were led by Arctic Force for last year's winning trainer Karl Burke. The son of Night of Thunder was thought highly enough to compete in a conditions race at Doncaster in July, but he hadn't been seen in action since then. Ed Walker would make the long journey North with his runner Astabuen. The Zelzal colt improved from debut to second start where he was narrowly denied at Epsom and was then aimed highly at a sales race in France, where he was unsurprisingly outclassed. This race looked to be a lot easier and he had the chance to regain the promise shown. The first of the newcomers would be Jack Morland's Bahari. He would come from a family rich in success over a mile as a half brother to a Queen Anne Stakes winner and his trainer has provided debut winners in the past. One of the likelier outsiders in this contest would be the Phil Makin-trained Binksy Boy. The modestly bred gelding was sent off at a big price on debut at Newcastle and never featured from the rear. Ed Bethell has a good record with his horses at Redcar and looked for more success here with Crystal Dark. He was gelded before his first start, but showed promise in both starts in the North East. Firstly when keeping on into second at Newcastle and again when filling the second spot once again over course and distance. Jim Goldie would be represented here by Eagles Eternal. The colt is the latest from the highly successful, home bred family which includes Eternal Instinct and Sound of Iona. He will surely win races eventually for these connections, but it would be unlikely to be in this race. Gemma Tutty's newcomer Hal'way The Lads would be a popular choice with punters from the region. The Minzaal colt has relatives who perfomed better over longer trips but his trainer can ready a newcomer every now and again. William Haggas would send a few runners up from Newmarket for this contest, the first of them would be Hierax. The son of Frankel is related to a Royal Ascot-winning filly, but had shown modest form compared to the high standard of his trainer. He looked to be a work in progress with a pair of fifth placings so far. He was joined here by his stablemate If You Like. The colt was surprising weak in the betting ahead of his debut at Yarmouth recently and ran to those expectations, trailing home in sixth but he was open to improvement for his second start here. Julie Camacho recently saddled a 100-1 winner of a novice with a horse on second start and hoped to repeat the trick with Leabank. The chestnut is related to a few useful handicappers, but looked all at sea on his debut here in a similar contest. He needed to benefit from that experience and improve for this race. Amo Racing aren't afraid of utilising Redcar with their young horses and would be represented here by Kevin Philippart de Foy's colt Le Drakkar. He would come from a Godolphin-bred family and was purchased for relatively big money at the sales ring. A third runner from the William Haggas yard would be the newcomer Old Compton. The son of Ten Sovereigns is out of a modest, one time winning mare, so he would lack some of the quality expected with debutants from this yard. A second runner for the Amo Racing outfit would be one with previous experience, Charlie Johnston's Olympiacos. The grey has shown race by race improvement so far, with a modest sixth at Catterick followed by a third at Yarmouth two weeks ago. He is also bred to a few multiple winners which is a positive. Next up would be a leading candidate from the William Haggas stable, Procyon. The son of Mehmas is a half brother to a high class handicapper and showed potential of his own when third in a small field at Newmarket, where the first two home had previous experience. A second runner for the Julie Camacho stable would be Raguel, who comes from a family the stable know very well. The Malton based trainer is capable of producing first time winners, so the betting market would provide clues about his chances. There would be an eye-catching stable transfer involving the colt Raslan ahead of lining up in this contest. The son of New Bay started life with Richard and Peter Fahey stable, but showed little on track. It would be interesting to see what his new trainer George Boughey can achieve here. Next up would be a pair of Ed Bethell-trained runners, hailing from a yard which has had a good year in this division. The first would be Rogue Constelation; a son of improving sire Starman. The colt defied tricky conditions on his debut at Ayr last month to take a promising third. He was joined here by stablemate Sayaarr. The son of Dark Angel comes from a smart family of winners and made his debut in a similar contest at Southwell. He was slowly way and given an educational ride that when only ninth. Leading trainer George Boughey would have a second runner here with the final colt on the card, Steel Nation. The son of Sioux Nation is a half brother to a smart type over this distance and would warrant respect ahead of his debut with his connections in mind. There would be a small amount of fillies to take on their male counterparts here. The first would come from the popular stable of Mick and David Easterby, Here's To It. She would show a glimpse of promise on her debut at this venue when fourth in a seller, but took a step backwards when down the order next time at Ayr. Next up would be the Ann Duffield-trained filly Lady Mombasa. The daughter of Profitable comes from the family of a multiple winning sprinter and a staying hurdle winner, so this contest would be a good gauge of what lays ahead for the filly. Completing the field would be the best bred horse in the field, the filly Sexy from the Charlie Johnston yard. The newcomer is a full sister to a 2000 Guineas winner, so was of automatic interest, even more so with her big spending owners.
Winner:
Race Two: The EBF "Double Trigger" Novice Stakes - 2-y-o Only - One Mile, One Furlong - Runners:
The second race would see the turn of the future stayers, with this novice contest donning the name of an all time great in the staying division. Double Trigger made a winning debut at this venue by ten lengths in 1993 before going on to a fabled career which included an Ascot Gold Cup, three Doncaster Cups and three Goodwood Cups. This nine furlong contest takes place over a distance rarely used by juveniles, but it would provide an opportunity for the more stoutly bred types to compete with the Derby and St Leger as prospective targets next year. Twelve months ago, the Ralph Beckett-trained Bay Of Brilliance routed the field by eight lengths before taking a close second in a Derby Trial at Lingfield the following spring and then fourth in the Epsom Derby. This year's lineup had a high standard to compare to, but it would still be a fascinating race in prospect.
Heading the card for the 2026 renewal would be Arctic Force from the Karl Burke stable. The grey colt lined up over this longer trip instead of the opening contest and was considered good enough to compete in a conditions race at Doncaster back in July, in which he finished last of six. This would be a long absence to overcome however. The Mick Appleby stable is more accustomed to sprinters, but have a young stayer in the making with Arkenforce. The son of Land Force would make his debut at the challenging Bath racecourse and passed beaten horses towards the finish when only eighth, so needed to improve here. The famous silks of Juddmonte would be present in this contest, courtesy of the Andrew Balding-trained Caldo. The son of Nathaniel looked green on his debut at Sandown before taking a step forward and taking second last time at Sandown, so is improving with experience. Another high profile trainer with an interest here would be Hugo Palmer with the twice-raced Charmed Boy. The grey is related to some multiple winning stayers and kept on in encouraging style at Bath last time out to record a second fourth place of his career. Gemma Tutty would saddle DJ Harry in this contest and the young colt brought valuable experience of Redcar to the table. The son of Circus Maximus is related to a talented stayer, but ran with inexperience on his debut when only sixth over a mile here recently. Charlie Johnston's dad Mark trained Double Trigger, so a winner in this contest would be even sweeter. The Middleham stable would send up Giant Dan Burn for this contest. The colt had shown a few quirks on his previous two starts and had hinted at needing longer trips already based on his stout pedigree. William Haggas would look for a successful trip to the North East with the promising Iron Stone Lad. The son of Cracksman is bred for middle distances and had already made appeal as a stayer in his two starts so far. He would stay on dourly into second on his latest effort at York earlier this month and had the form to be a leading contender here. Another Newmarket challenger here would be Simon Crisford's colt Jebayli. The son of Frankel comes from a high class family and hails from a stable with a good record at this course in recent years. Next up would be Naval Empire from the Stuart Williams stabe. The Newmarket yard isn't known for its first time out winners, but the son of Naval Crown showed up with promise at Ffos Las where he took third in testing conditions. A locally based runner would be Rebecca Menzies with her newcomer Sardinero. The chestnut had been gelded ahead of his debut, but his stamina laden German family would bring him into play on softer ground. A second runner in the silks of the ARM Racing would be Ed Bethell's debutante Seddeeg. The son of St Mark's Basilica comes from a family that stretches back to some top class stayers, but h
Race Four: The Wear Your Poppy With Pride Novice Stakes - Class Three - One Mile, Two Furlongs - Runners:
Race Five: The Join Racing TV Now Handicap - Class Three - One Mile - Runners: