After the drama, excitement and fall out of the Cheltenham Festival began to settle down, the national hunt season rolled on ahead of the ever closer season finale at the end of April. A good looking midweek raceday took place in West Yorkshire at the Wetherby venue which featured some interesting contests despite the small number of runners.
Cheltenham may be in the past now, but the path to next year's festival begins now. The weather conditions brought a challenge to the amount of layers of clothing needed by racegoers as bright sunshine was supported by a sharp breeze and threatening skies looked set to dump a load of rain on the racecourse, but it held off. Softer ground conditions were back in fashion and it was music to trainers' ears as the season has been dominated by quick ground. 

Race One: The RacingTV Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle - Class Five - 2 miles - 9 Ran.
Winner: WILLIAM OF YORK (#2) (Kayf Tara x Shady Anne) - T. Durrell - D. Skelton.
The first of seven races on the afternoon featured a look to the future as the younger generation of rider took the hot seat. The class five contest saw a healthy sized field with nine runners and a handful who were beginning to run into form. They included Jukebox d'Eddy, a four-year-old and runner up last time out, Captain Jack who had finished placed on two of his last three starts and Sonnemoser for the ever-shrewd yard of Richard Newland.
The opener would go the way of William Of York, who proved to be aptly named in relation to York which is just down the road from Wetherby. Somewhat disappointing for his stable so far, a change of tactics was called for. Cutting out the early fractions under a positive ride from Tristan Durrell, the pair dictated the race. Often stretching to a clear lead and reducing the deficit, the Dan Skelton-trained gelding had enough left in the tank to repel all challengers to bravely land his first win. Sonnemoser stayed on best of the rest to take second away from Captain Jones. It was a well judged ride by conditional Tristan Durrell who has been a key member of staff at the Skelton stable for years. 

Race Two: The RacingTV Novices' Hurdle - Class Four - 2 miles, 3 furlongs - 5 Ran.
Winner: SPRINGWELL BAY (Kayf Tara x Winning Counsel) (#1) - J. O'Neill Jnr - J. O'Neill 

The first novice event of the day saw a high profile name take to the Wetherby turf. The Jonjo O'Neill-trained Springwell Bay was very highly regarded at the start of his career and despite not living up to his true potential, the six-year-old gelding was well above average for the grade. The contest featured five runners, but in reality it was a match race between the two protagonists. Main rival to the favourite was the Evan Williams-trained Hurricane Highway, a winner over hurdles last time out and carried three pounds less and posed a lively threat. Most interesting out of the remaining trio was the Mark Walford-trained Tara Brooch, a very well daughter of Kayf Tara and Gaspara. The five year old looks to be a long term project and was only ninth on debut. 
The event would be more like a routine canter session for the winner Springwell Bay who never turned a hair in winning. Chasing the early leader Hurricane Highway, winning rider Jonjo O'Neill Jnr kept close tabs on the pace-setter. The field kept in single file throughout the contest and the well fancied pair soon pulled clear of the others. Approaching the last, Springwell Bay and Hurricane Highway jumped the flight together with the favourite looking a little awkward over it. Upon landing, the son of Kayf Tara soon breezed past Hurricane Highway with O'Neill sat motionless in the saddle as Adam Wedge was flat to the boards on the eventual runner-up. 
It was a bloodless victory for the Jonjo O'Neill-trained five year old who looked a talent of the highest potential when winning a bumper by 19 lengths in 2021. He has won twice over hurdles including at Ascot and his only defeat came over two miles in a Grade Two at Cheltenham. A return to Graded company looks imminent with the Aintree festival on the horizon. 

Race Three: The Sandra Finch Surprise Handicap Chase - Class Four - 2 miles, 3 furlongs - 6 Ran
Winner: GALLIC GEORDIE (#5) - (Geordieland x Je Ne Sais Plus) - R. Dunne - S. Drinkwater. 
A smart handicap chase took place for race three and the six runners had little to split them. Heading the weights was Jet Plane, who represented last week's Cheltenham Festival winning team of Harry and Dan Skelton. Ladronne, a course regular took his place in the race for trainer Tjade Collier. The nine-year-old was a winner at the Charlie Hall Chase meeting back in October and was looking for another win this season. 
Ladronne cut out the early running and jumped really well throughout the contest as the remainder of the field stayed tightly grouped. Held up early, Gallic Geordie stalked the pace under Robbie Dunne and made up ground turning for home. Ladronne attempted to slip the field on the home bend and extended his lead, but the long road to the winning post soon took its toll as Gallic Geordie came to challenge. The Sam Drinkwater-trained ten year old rewarded the patience of his rider and stayed on up the run in powerfully, recording a first win in over a year. Winning a treble of races last season, the son of Geordieland had been running into some form again and appreciated the return to softer ground. A smart type on his favoured conditions, he will be put away for next season in pursuit of more glory. 

Race Four: The Mabel And Ted Fortune Memorial Handicap Hurdle - Class Four - 2 miles - 6 Ran
Winner: GO DANTE (Kayf Tara x Whoops A Daisy) - (#1) - S. Bowen - O. Murphy
Another small field which featured plenty of interesting types to make it a competitive contest. Top weight Go Dante was the class act in the race having finished fourth in a Grade One during the Christmas period in 2021. Leading owner JP McManus was doubly represented in the race with the promising Hartur d'Oudaries and the regressive Guiri who was now trained by Ben Haslam in hope of sparking enthusiasm for racing once again. The popular Chti Balko, now an eleven year old, lined up for Donald McCain.
The obstacle of carrying top weight was no limit for the Olly Murphy-trained Go Dante, who returned to his very best here with an authoritive success. Tracking the pace behind the early leaders, Sean Bowen inched his mount into contention approaching the final few hurdles. Challenging eventual runner-up McGowan's Pass between the last two flights, Go Dante kicked clear and jumped the final hurdle well. Under darkening clouds, Go Dante powered up the run in to land a first win since a novice hurdle back in late 2021. It was a welcome return to form for the horse and yet another winner for the red hot stable of Olly Murphy. This win would be a seventh consecutive winner from all runners for the respected stable. 

Race Five: The RacingTV Novices' Limited Handicap Chase - Class Three - 3 miles - 6 Ran
Winner: FAMOUS BRIDGE (Fame And Glory x Wahiba Hall) (#4) - S. Quinlan - N. Richards
The feature race of the afternoon was the novices' handicap chase for stayers' of the future. The contest featured three last time out winners who were progressing nicely as they looked ahead to bigger and better targets next season. The famous Trevor Hemmings silks, synonymous with staying chasers, were represented by Famous Bridge for Nicky Richards who landed a similar event impressively at Wetherby last time out. The David Pipe-trained First Lord Du Cuet had suffered from seconditis during his first season over fences, but is also talented on his day as the fourth place in Haydock's Grand National Trial Handicap showed. 

The race turned into an attritional battle with just three out of the five runners finishing. The seasonal debutant Inishbiggle needed the run and the out of form Alfa Mix struggled at the midway point. The David Pipe-trained First Lord Du Cuet made the running at a leisurely pace until turning for home when the race heated up. Lord Of Kerak kept the leader honest and he took over in front as Famous Bridge loomed large. The mount of Sean Quinlan took over between the final two fences. A safe jump with an awkward landing allowed Lord Of Kerak a second chance to challenge, but Famous Bridge found extra and rallied to win comfortably. It was a second win at Wetherby for the seven year old after a win over two and a half miles last time. Looking like he appreciated the extra distance, Famous Bridge looks tailor made for staying races like the Scottish National in the future. A classic type who is synonymous with his owner, the late Trevor Hemmings.

Race Six: The RacingTV Handicap Hurdle - Class Five - 3 miles - 9 Ran
Winner: FIADH (#5) (Fame And Glory x Lady Charisma) - S. Quinlan - C. Grant
The final race over obstacles took place with a class five handicap hurdle for four year olds and older. Plenty of local trainers were represented in the race and likely favourite was the Micky Hammond trained Great Raffles. A winner of two races at the end of last season, the son of Kapgarde had finished in the top three on both starts this season. The services of in form jockey Sean Bowen were enlisted in the saddle. In opposition, the Phillip Kirby inmate Heritier de Sivola has enjoyed a productive season and posed a worthy rival in the race. 

There was somewhat of a surprise as the Chris Grant-trained mare Fiadh ended up winning comfortably. In the early stages, Choungaya and Heritier de Sivola took each other on in the lead and helped to force a decent pace. As the pair came clear, Fiadh raced cosily at the head of the the chasing pack. Turning for home, Fiadh ended up in pole position as the leaders weakened and the mare began to stretch clear. Jumping the last few hurdles easily, she retained the daylight between herself and her rivals to win by over four lengths. The application of cheekpieces really sparked some life into Fiadh as she won for the third time in her career. 

Race Seven: The Thank You All Groundstaff National Hunt Flat Race - Class Five - 2 miles - 12 ran.
Winner: INDEEVAR BLEU (Blue Bresil x Ardissone) (#6) - S. Bowen - O. Murphy

Arguably, the best race on paper was saved for last as the class five "bumper" race holds the potential to throw up a star name for next year's novice scene. In recent years, the corresponding race has been won by very smart types Hillcrest, a Grade Two winner over hurdles and Chasing Fire, multiple winner of novice hurdles. 
This year's running featured plenty of leading stables including Warren Greatrex, Alan King and Dan Skelton, whereas last year's winning connections were represented this year by the newcomer Indeevar Bleu. The son of Blue Bresil, sire of Consititution Hill, was respected in the colours of owner Diana Whateley as the stable will feel this is a perfect race to introduce this newcomer in the same was as Chasing Fire twelve months ago. 

The confidence of connections was justified as a very taking debut effort made racegoers purring with excitement over what they had just witnessed. The early pace was sensible for such an inexperienced field and Doc McCoy set out to make all the running. The runners were tightly grouped until halfway as some of the stragglers began to lose ground. Entering the final few furlongs, it was evident who would win the race. Indeevar Bleu travelled powerfully on the bridle and moved up to the hind quarters of Doc McCoy. A few squeezes from Sean Bowen saw the Olly Murphy-trained five-year-old moved effortlessly clear.  Drawing further and further away from his rivals, Indeevar Bleu will have entered many notebooks for the future. From the family of Supreme Novice Hurdle winner Al Ferof and a half brother to smart staying hurdler Kapard, hopes are very high for this gelding when he tackles obstacles. He has the potential to go a long way next year and could be seen at next year's Cheltenham Festival.