Come Racing At Hexham Friday 6th October Handicap Chase (Qualifier)

Off time: 17:40 | Winning time: 6m 56.34s

Man With Van^h1⁴¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Griffin| OR: 121| C| D

9/4

Irish raider who was runner up in the 2015 Ulster National for Stuart Crawford, and also a winning novice chaser at this track in June 2014 (2m4f). Handicapper giving him a chance after a moderate run at Bangor, and the hood is applied.

Form: 8P-9437

Tickenwolf⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 117| C

5/2

Jumped well when winning over 2m4f on his chasing debut here in September 2016, so rather disappointing that he's not really progressed since, often attributable to some shoddy fencing. Ground nor trip ideal, but a likely player.

Form: 2FP-44U

Friendly Royal^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 110| C

6/1

A two time winner over fences for Sue Smith, including at this track in October 2015 (2m4f good to soft). However lost the plot as his mark increased into 2016 and beyond. No improvement on stable debut last month and dropped a further 5lb.

Form: 224PP/7

Presented¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: B S Hughes| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 95| D

9/5

A six time winner over fences (three for current connections), but not since July 2016, which has resulted in a 17lb fall in the weights. Improvement required.

Form: 965944

Forecasts

Presented (9/5), Man With Van (9/4), Tickenwolf (5/2), Friendly Royal (6/1)

A disappointing numerical turnout, and it's more than fair to say that none of the four runners appear progressive. Friendly Royal and Presented have both been largely out of form and are beginning to fall in the weights, but with little to recommend either, the pair to concentrate on are the course winners MAN WITH VAN and Tickenwolf. The latter is a younger horse and thus open to more improvement, but he's blotted his copybook on a couple of occasions since making a pleasing start over fences, so preference is marginally for the once useful top-weight. Now approaching twelve he's undoubtedly not the force of old, but Patrick and James Griffin know how to best handle their horses, and it's perhaps notable that the first time hood is applied.