19:35 Hexham
Saturday 6 May 2017
All17:3518:0518:3519:0519:3520:0520:35
Eve Aitchison Heart Of All England Maiden Hunters' Chase
- 5YO plus  |  Class 5  |  3m 41y  |  Good (Good to Soft in places, Watered)  |  14 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 19:35Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 6m 26.5s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
A winner for Sheila Crow at Garnons (2m4f open maiden) in March 2016, and also twice more for this trainer (unbeaten) winning at Askham Bryan College and Tabley (both 3m good) in 2017. A youngster on an upward curve with a leading rider booked.
Five from twelve in Point-to-Points, but less effective under rules until running a sound race in the Buccleuch Cup at Kelso last month (beaten just over 2L by Havana Jack). This race an obvious next target especially in light of his ownership.
Well beaten when hampered and unseating his rider in the Buccleuch Cup at Kelso last month and seemingly well held by Bafana Choice. A four time winner in Point-to-Points including at Hexham in May 2016 (over a vastly different track to this one).
Found a new lease of life this spring, with placed efforts at Corbridge and Friars Haugh, prior to a recent double at Friars Haugh (3m2f) and Heslaker (3m). Will race to the fore, but might find this ground quick enough and unwise to read too much into his latest success (beat a fifteen year old).
Won twice in Point-to-Points at around this time in 2016 (April; at Friars Haugh and Corbridge), but not in such good shape so far in 2017. Tongue tied.
This will be his 22nd attempt at breaking the maiden under rules, and he finished sixth in this race in 2015 to Cave Hunter. Fencing often proves his problem and he got no further than the third when last in action at Musselburgh in February.
Won a 3m Restricted at Askham Bryan College for Jack Jordan in February (good to soft), and joined this trainer/rider prior to scoring by ¾L at Easingwold late last month. Ground holds no fears and possibly laid out for this prestigious race on rules debut.
Has recorded nine letters amongst his form figures in fifteen starts in Point-to-Points with 'P' a regular occurence. However, he did manage to win a small race at Tabley (in which only three finished) on his penultimate start.
No stranger to rules racing, but his career record in Point-to-Points is more pleasing on the eye (7 from 39). Rated just 77, but did manage to finish a held third in the Buccleuch Cup at Kelso latest, but it'll be a major surprise if he reverses form with the runner up Bafana Choice.
Bred by the great Peter Beaumont, this gelding is a three time winner in Point-to-Points, including twice over this trip at Corbridge and Dalton Park in March 2015. He was pulled up in this race in 2015, and also a winner over 3m5f at Heslaker in April 2016, but arguably hasn't been at his best in 2017.
Won by 5L at Revesby Park in March 2017 on his return from almost two years off the track and has been kept busy since, running out in the marathon 4m1f Grimthorpe Gold Cup at Sheriff Hutton in early April. Produced a fair effort on his rules debut over C&D last month when a close third behind Ardea and Young Hurricane.
A 6L runner up to Venue in a 2m novice hurdle at this track in May 2015 shows this gelding has some ability. His enthusiasm has been rekindled in Point-to-Points lately winning two of his five starts in 2017 (both at Friars Haugh, 3m and 3m2f). Faster ground to contend with in a stronger race.
Once with Tom George (won for that trainer on debut in a Perth bumper in May 2013). Sports a 33% strike rate (4/12) in Point-to-Points since switched to this yard, and has won over this trip the last twice on similar ground at Overton and Tranwell.
A four time winner in Point-to-Points, including on her latest start at Witton Castle over the Easter period. Always to the fore on that occasion, she was pushed out to beat Fever Pitch (a stablemate of Micky Miller) by 6L.
Non-Runners
11
Shantou Prince1
Weight: 12-0|Â Â Age: 8
T: Mrs G B Walford  J: Mr Christopher Furness
NR
Forecasts
Againn Dul Aghaidh (3/1), Shantou Prince (3/1), Tallow Fair (9/2), Mickey Miller (5/1), Viacometti (5/1), Bafana Choice (10/1), Towerburn (14/1), Wizadora (14/1), Forge Valley (14/1), Fight Away Boys (25/1), Senor Alco (25/1), Little Fritz (33/1), Norton Grove (40/1), Shannon Silver (66/1), For Yes (80/1)
Guineas weekend in Newmarket, but the feature race up in Northumberland is the prestigious Heart of All England Maiden Hunters Chase, with the race being the flagship event of the entire season at Hexham. A sizeable field this time around signals that luck in running could prove a valuable asset to success. Mickey Miller looks of interest now based with John Dawson, and he has probably been acquired with this race firmly in mind. Shantou Prince holds strong claims on the basis of his fine run behind the 2016 winner of this race (Ardea) at Wetherby in March, but the young horse on an upward curve is very much the impossibly named AGAINN DUL AGHAIDH. He has won his last two races in Point-to-Points in similar conditions and has an excellent rider booked to do the steering.
- Againn Dul Aghaidh
- Shantou Prince
- Mickey Miller
Prize Money
1st: £3,120.002nd: £968.003rd: £484.004th: £242.00
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