Jockey Hector Crouch is northern bound this afternoon, and is back with his latest blog doing an All Weather Racing Preview from today’s card at Newcastle. Read his exclusive column each and every week with kwiff.
All Weather Racing Preview: January 16th 2026
It’s been a bit of a quiet week since the return from the skiing trip and with my agent currently enjoying some well-deserved time off I’m having to fend for myself a bit. That’s why I haven’t been riding as many as I normally would have, but Chamas was a nice winner for Ralph Beckett and owner David Aykroyd at Lingfield in the week. She was green early doors but flew down the straight once the penny dropped, and has the potential to improve for that first day at school.
All Weather Racing Preview: Bela Sonata (1.40)
Newcastle have a great card on Friday and I’m getting the train up there for four very good rides. The first is Bella Sonata (1.40) who looks a potentially nice filly for Paul and Ollie Cole, making a belated reappearance since winning at Newbury earlier in the summer. We know she handles the all-weather because it was Kempton where she shed the maiden tag, and bettered that when bolting-up on handicap debut at Newbury two starts later.
She’s obviously had a little bit of a setback, hence why we’ve not seen her for 6 months, but the form of that Newbury race has worked out well and Bela Sonata boasts the type of profile that should see her continue to improve. An 8lb rise doesn’t seem too harsh, and she should run well.
All Weather Racing Preview: Duke of Oxford (2.15)
It’s good to get on Duke of Oxford (2.15) again after he did the business (again) in the Stayers’ Series Finale last month at Kempton. He’s up 3lb for that but had come down plenty from winning the same race 12 months ago, and seems in good order. The only problem for him is that the race is being run at Newcastle, and not Kempton!
He’s a much better horse at his preferred venue in West London however, he still should go well but Berkshire Sundance is probably the one to beat here. He beat New York Minute when sat on the runner-up a few weeks ago in what looked a good race.
All Weather Racing Preview: Ten Pounds (3.20)
I was keen to sit aboard Ten Pounds (3.20) on New Year’s Day with the big horse doing some supposed good work on the gallops beforehand, and was really impressed with his performance, despite finishing 4th that day. He looked the most likely winner a furlong from home but just got tired and is sure to strip fitter for the run. We learnt a lot about him from the Southwell run and with further improvement likely I think he’ll go close.
All Weather Racing Preview: Bassenthwaite (3.55)
Dartrey will be popular to complete the four-timer in the 3yo handicap but he’s running against animals three stone better than making his winning handicap debut a couple of weeks ago, and I think he could potentially struggle upped in grade. I was delighted to get the call for Bassenthwaite (3.55) for trainer Clive Cox and owner David Armstrong. He’s up 11lb for bolting-up under me at Wolverhampton last time out and if he stays the longer trip then he has a great chance. He settles well and is uncomplicated, so fingers crossed he books his place for All Weather Finals Day.
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