16:20 Hexham

Monday 23 April 2018

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

totesport.com Complete Pool Betting Service Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 4m 8.20s

Melekhov⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| D

5/2

Still appears to be a work in progress, but got the job done when scoring on his second start at Fakenham in February (2m soft), beating Arch My Boy by a head. Penalised at a stiffer track, but fully respected.

Form: 21

Blaydon⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

25/1

Son of Milan who cost €38,000 as a three-year-old. Looked in need of a sterner test of stamina when a never nearer, well beaten, 21L debut third to Dali Mail in deep ground at Kelso in February (2m).

Form: 3

Penny Blak

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: G Boanas

8/1

Unraced ninth foal out of the Reveley's bumper/1m2f winner Pennys Pride. Half-brother to four winners including Crowning Jewel and Floras Pride, so rates as a newcomer to keep an eye on in the market.

Form:

Sullivan

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr

14/1

Cost €6,000 as a three-year-old. Half-brother to three winners, one of them in a bumper. Dam an unraced half-sister to the Listed bumper winner Swaythe.

Form:

Urca De Lima⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball| D

5/2

Showed a determined attitude when justifying market support in a 2m Uttoxeter bumper in April 2017. Pitched in deep at Listed level on her belated return to action at Sandown last month (well beaten), but this is more realistic.

Form: 1-8

Getaway Gerry

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: K Scott

50/1

Cost £5,000 in August 2017 and is the first foal of a 2m4f hurdle winner (Loch Dhu). Stable not known for their bumper winners, but their sole previous NHF scorer was at this track.

Form:

Lough Legend³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

20/1

Cost £4,000 as a three-year-old, and finished third on debut at Wetherby in March (2m heavy), but was beaten by 13¾L. Whilst the winner Good Boy Bobby is a useful horse, further improvement needs to be forthcoming.

Form: 3

Madinat⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Miss E Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: G Boanas

100/1

By Haafhd out of Let It Be (multiple 1m4f-2m1f winner), this gelding is seemingly more bred for Flat racing than jumping. Never figured on debut at Catterick in February (2m good to soft). Trainer also saddles Penny Blak.

Form: 8

Night Manager

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: D A Jacob| T: Micky Hammond

11/4

Unraced sixth foal by Sageburg out of the Flat winner Pretty Soon. Cost €36,000 as a three-year-old and is a half brother to various French winners including Persevere (1m4f-1m7f). Eye-catching jockey booking.

Form:

Non-Runners

Bluefortytwo¹¹¹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: J Ewart J: Henry Brooke

Forecasts

Melekhov (5/2), Urca De Lima (5/2), Night Manager (11/4), Bluefortytwo (7/2), Penny Blak (8/1), Sullivan (14/1), Lough Legend (20/1), Blaydon (25/1), Getaway Gerry (50/1), Madinat (100/1)

An interesting looking bumper without an obvious standout selection. For many Melekhov will fit the profile of a likely market leader, but he's young and inexperienced and looked far from the finished article when scoring with more than the winning margin up his sleeve at Fakenham. BLUEFORTYTWO represents new connections (cost £55,000), and market confidence would speak volumes with regards his winning chances, but others to consider in an open contest include the mare Urca De Lima and the eye-catching Daryl Jacob ridden newcomer Night Manager.