15:20 Hexham

Monday 23 April 2018

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:55

totesport.com For Exacta Bets Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:22 | Winning time: 5m 7.7s

Only Orsenfoolsies¹¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 125

20/1

A winner from a 5lb lower mark at Wetherby on Boxing Day (2m5f+ soft), beating Bright Tomorrow by 1¼L (Ryedale Racer fourth). Off since early January, and was declared to run on the Flat at Beverley (abandoned) last week.

Form: 24-7315

Ryedale Racer⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 122| CD

15/2

C&D winner in November 2016 (novices), but hasn't won since. Looks high enough in the weights for what he has achieved, but on the plus side, this is his favoured track (2,1,2,3,1,4,2), and he ran very well at Kelso latest.

Form: 344-243

Skywards Reward⁶^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 115

11/2

Made hard work of winning at Carlisle last week despite being unpenalised for his previous 17L success. Races from a 9lb higher mark today (without Hugo Thompson Brown aboard) and goes back up in trip.

Form: 691211

Don Lami⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 118| BF

5/2

Picked up for €55,000 at Punchestown in April 2017 after winning a Fairyhouse point-to-point for Colin Bowe. Made an impressive rules debut in a Fontwell bumper in November 2017, but not as strong over hurdles just yet. Handicap debut.

Form: 1-123

Rhymers Stone^p²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: Mrs H O Graham| OR: 117

14/1

Solid performer who was a game winner at Carlisle in November (2m1f soft). Struggled off higher marks since, and side-stepped a possible option at his favoured Newcastle last weekend owing to the desperately heavy ground.

Form: 212-174

Cape Hideaway^p²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Miss E Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 114| CD

6/1

His sole success over hurdles came over C&D in May 2017 (good), but he's 8lb higher now. Largely solid since, and was a Flat winner (1m4f) at Doncaster last month, so deserves respect. Declared at Beverley last week (abandoned).

Form: P77224

Absolutely Dylan³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 114| BF

12/1

Beat some modest rivals when scoring at Newcastle in February (4/9f), and found wanting in a 2m3f Haydock handicap next time. Still relatively unexposed as such over hurdles (1 from 4), but a career best effort is required.

Form: 663217

Randy Pike^t⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁷⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 112

7/2

Won twice at around this trip for this trainer since leaving Nicky Richards for £20,000 in May 2016. Beaten just 4½L by the very likeable Grand Morning at Newcastle last weekend (2m6f heavy), so holds every chance off the same mark.

Form: 916P13

Pistol⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr John Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: J E Dixon| OR: 112

33/1

Prominent racer who is best on heavy ground, so drying conditions aren't ideal. 8lb higher than when successful at Carlisle in February (2m1f), and despite winning from higher marks in the past, that's a potential stumbling block.

Form: 727133

Ten Trees⁵²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: Sally Haynes| OR: 110| C

50/1

Pushed clear to take a bumper by 8L on her sole previous visit to Hexham in March 2015 (Beer Goggles fourth), and is a two-time hurdles winner elsewhere since. However, off the track since November 2016, so fitness is taken on trust.

Form: 441/412-

Top Cat Henry^t,v³³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 109| D

80/1

Better known as a chaser, and has often raced in Hunters Chases over the past couple of years. Not run over hurdles since April 2015 for Dr Richard Newland.

Form: 0P-45PP

Forecasts

Don Lami (5/2), Randy Pike (7/2), Skywards Reward (11/2), Cape Hideaway (6/1), Ryedale Racer (15/2), Absolutely Dylan (12/1), Rhymers Stone (14/1), Only Orsenfoolsies (20/1), Pistol (33/1), Ten Trees (50/1), Top Cat Henry (80/1)

Plenty of runners and fairly competitive with recent 2m1f Carlisle scorer Skywards Reward bidding for a hat-trick for Middleham handler Micky Hammond; also saddles the top-weighted Only Orsenfoolsies. However, the opposition is stronger today with the likes of Ryedale Racer arriving on the back of an improved effort at Kelso in February, the handicap debutante Don Lami potentially having more too offer, and the dual purpose performer Cape Hideaway a winner on the Flat at Doncaster last month. In terms of a possible solution, the Tim Easterby trained RANDY PIKE remains progressive, and he lost little in defeat to Grand Morning at Newcastle recently.