16:40 Hexham
Saturday 13 May 2017
All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15
Great North Run Handicap Chase
- 5YO plus  |  Class 4  |  3m 41y  |  Good (Watered)  |  11 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 16:40Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 6m 32.6s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Fell at Becher's Brook in the Grand Sefton at Aintree when last in action in December 2016, and generally lightly raced since winning at Kelso in March 2016. Dropping in the weights and in grade, but might need this race.
Enjoyed a purple patch during September and October 2016 when winning five times (including thrice at this track). All of those wins here came over 2m4f and yet to win over this trip and pulled up on his recent return to action at Perth.
Goes well fresh and showed improvement on stable debut when winning over this trip at Musselburgh in January. Disappointing since (pulled up on all three starts), but a short break might have done the trick and with ground to suit shouldn't be discounted under a leading rider.
C&D winner in September 2016 and has dropped down the weights after a string of below par runs since. Now 8lb lower than for that success, and with ground conditions to suit looks a possible player if revived.
Regularly competed in Hunter Chases when last raced competitively in early 2016. A Cartmel winner in May 2014, it is difficult to envisage this veteran being involved after an eleven month absence.
Steady sort who usually runs his race and has rarely been out of the frame over the last couple of years, though he hasn't won since July 2015. Lightly raced since October, so others possibly sharper today.
Handicapped to go close, but is a tricky sort to catch. Won a 2m1f Kelso handicap chase from this mark in December 2016, and was a 4½L runner up at Wetherby last month. Upped in trip to 3m with stamina a major worry.
Her handicap mark is in free-fall and after just five starts over fences, she'd be far less exposed than most. However, she's not won since December 2015, but the application of blinkers gives opportunity for optimism, as does a solid recent Carlisle fourth over 3m2f.
Four time winner over fences, but unquestionably a shade quirky. Attractively weighted, but put firmly in his place by Orioninverness over 2m4f on his penultimate start here in March and beaten by Apache Pilot when stepped up to 3m latest.
Dual C&D winner and comes here seeking a hat-trick following victories at the opening two Hexham fixtures of 2017 (both over 3m). The application of cheek-pieces has served him well and he arrives a major player despite a 5lb rise (with the third placed and comprehensively beaten Smugglers Stash a winner at Carlisle since). Quicker ground likely today, and taken out of a race here on April 25th.
Took full advantage of the leniency shown by the handicapper when beating Frank The Slink by 5L over C&D last month. Up 7lb, but was a decisive scorer that day and with this track clearly suiting him well, looks a major player for a trainer who also saddled a gambled on winner here last Saturday.
Forecasts
Hattons Hill (3/1), Apache Pilot (7/2), Voyage A New York (13/2), La Dama De Hierro (7/1), Pena Dorada (10/1), Verko (10/1), Rosquero (12/1), Dream Flyer (16/1), Dursey Sound (20/1), Formidableopponent (25/1), Dica (33/1)
Plenty of horses with chances in an open handicap chase, not least the recent pair of C&D winners Apache Pilot and HATTONS HILL. Both horses are at the right end of the handicap with the Maurice Barnes trained raider a decisive winner when shown some leniency by the handicapper last month. Hattons Hill missed that particular race on account of the ground, but with rain forecast and the track well watered, there should be just enough juice in the ground to see him line up seeking a quickfire hat-trick. Of the remainder La Dama De Hierro is interesting and should run her race, whilst Dream Flyer is better than he has shown since winning at Musselburgh in January.
- Hattons Hill
- Apache Pilot
- La Dama De Hierro
Prize Money
1st: £3,769.002nd: £1,107.003rd: £553.004th: £277.00
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