14:35 Hexham
Wednesday 22 November 2017
All12:2512:5513:3014:0014:3515:1015:40
Attheraces Handicap Hurdle
- 3YO plus  |  Class 4  |  2m 48y  |  Heavy  |  10 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 14:35Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 4m 38.6s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Back from a summer break following a productive season over fences, and despite shouldering top-weight is likely to prove well suited by the underfoot conditions. Hurdles mark lower than his fences mark, and just 5lb higher than at Ayr (March 2016).
Remains 9lb higher than when winning over 2m4f here in May (good). Lightly raced since, including on the Flat, but off since June, so is possibly slightly vulnerable on his return to action in deep ground.
Beaten 1¼L by Cruachan in similar conditions at Perth in late September (2m4f heavy), with the third placed horse Buckled a winner since. Possibly didn't stay 3m at Aintree latest, and now tackles a much shorter trip.
Has some ability and also proven form on heavy ground at this track as a novice back in 2014/15. However, has clearly had his problems having only recently returned from a two year absence (pulled up). Market the best guide.
Has failed to fire for some considerable time, with a string of poor efforts recorded since notching a Carlisle double in February 2016. Slipping down the weights, and heavy ground certainly suits, but difficult to enthuse over.
Started 2017 with a victory at Uttoxeter (2m heavy), but things haven't exactly gone to plan since. Chasing has seemingly been aborted, but he's slipping back to a winnable (hurdles) mark, having feasibly been in need of his races of late.
No doubting that Hexham is her manor, and she's a massively genuine mare. However, she's found life tough since her winning spell ended in May, and whilst slowly edging back down the weights looks more of a horse for next spring.
A solid horse for connections, and a winner over hurdles, fences and on the Flat. 4lb above his last winning mark over hurdles, when accounting for Un Guet Apens by 2¼L at Ayr in March (2m heavy). C&D winner in the past.
Not progressed as well as expected (given his ownership), and perhaps it will take a switch to fences to bring him to the fore. However, lowly weighted on his handicap debut and should handle the conditions without any real concerns.
Both career successes have come with cut (2m4f+ at Newcastle and Ayr). Just 5lb above his last winning mark (3L scorer), but this trip looks plenty sharp enough, and the suspicion is that he'll need this race (his first since April).
Forecasts
Minella Fiveo (4/1), Clan Legend (9/2), Aniknam (6/1), Vertigo (6/1), Beyondtemptation (6/1), Cape Hideaway (10/1), Pistol (12/1), Tomahawk Wood (14/1), Witness Time (18/1), Suprise Vendor (25/1)
The majority of the assembled will appreciate the underfoot conditions including the hardy veteran Suprise Vendor, the returning Tomahawk Wood, the increasingly well treated Minella Fiveo and the badly misfiring Pistol. However, the winner most probably lies outside of this quartet. Vertigo is best suited by 2m4f, but has place claims at the very least on the strength of his Perth effort in September, when narrowly beaten by Cruachan (third placed Buckled a winner since), and if there is to be a 'dark-horse' lurking, it will be the so far disappointing handicap debutant Witness Time. However, in an open race, the vote goes to the top-weight CLAN LEGEND. Nick Alexander's seven-year-old was a two time winner over fences last season, and returns to action with ground conditions to suit from a 5lb lower hurdles mark, which is just 5lb higher than when winning by 5L at Ayr in March 2016.
- Clan Legend
- Vertigo
- Minella Fiveo
Prize Money
1st: £4,029.002nd: £1,183.003rd: £591.004th: £296.00
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