19:05 Hexham

Saturday 5 May 2018

All17:3518:0518:3519:0519:3520:0520:35

BK Racing Bet Cash Or Debit Card Handicap Chase

Off time: 19:05 | Winning time: 6m 29.58s

Blue Kascade¹⁷¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 117| D

14/1

Prominent racer with a tendency to disappoint more often than he delivers. That said; when on song he's tough to peg back, and with a decent record fresh under suitable conditions, he's fully respected despite the weight.

Form: 6PP/P16-

Celtic Flames^p⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 113| C| D

14/1

Never won beyond 2m1f under rules, but looked a stayer in the making when winning over the minimum trip here in November (heavy). High enough in the weights on balance with stamina to prove.

Form: 145F14-

Total Assets⁷⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 112

5/1

Consistent performer over hurdles, but there's a price to pay to the handicapper for those fine attributes, and she continues to edge ever steadily up the weights in that sphere. Seeks to exploit her 10lb lower chasing mark.

Form: 12/2532-

Crest^p,t¹¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 111WS

22/1

Sole success was on debut in a Navan maiden hurdle (2m4f, soft/heavy). His current trainer is yet to get the best out of him, but very well handicapped on Irish form, and an obvious eye-catcher following wind surgery.

Form: 23/P756-

Milly Baloo^t1²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 110

7/1

Consistent mare, but blew a golden opportunity when demolishing the wing of the last fence at Catterick in February(3m1f good to soft). On a winnable mark, so can she finally deliver now tongue-tied?

Form: 3/2R243-

Sheneededtherun^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: J Kington⁽³⁾| T: M Scudamore| OR: 109| D

5/1

Just 2lb above her last winning mark (3m good to soft) at Warwick in February, and she should have the conditions in her favour tonight. Has plenty of previous form-lines with Milly Baloo.

Form: 5P1213-

Nortonthorpelegend²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: R Menzies| OR: 108| D

4/1

In the grip of the handicapper for a while after rattling off a hat-trick between November 2016 and January 2017 (3m+). Better treated now but still to totally convince that he's anywhere near his best.

Form: 428344-

Swing Hard²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 107| BF| D

9/1

Bogged down in atrocious conditions at Newcastle last month (2m4f heavy - virtually unraceable). Now just 1lb above his last winning mark at Wetherby in March 2017 (2m5f+ good to soft).

Form: 33PP23-

Captain Mowbray^p¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 107| D

10/1

Deservedly broke his duck after a remarkable late recovery by Tony Kelly at Wetherby in December (3m soft), but appeared beaten when unseating that same rider at Southwell latest. Stablemate of Nortonthorpelegend.

Form: 51333U-

Alto Des Mottes^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: H Hogarth| OR: 102| CD

8/1

Well below his best for some considerable time, hence the steady tumble down the handicap. Never won anywhere else over fences other than at Newcastle, and seemingly requires plenty of cut.

Form: 5PP5P3-

Forecasts

Nortonthorpelegend (4/1), Total Assets (5/1), Sheneededtherun (5/1), Milly Baloo (7/1), Alto Des Mottes (8/1), Swing Hard (9/1), Captain Mowbray (10/1), Celtic Flames (14/1), Blue Kascade (14/1), Crest (22/1)

Crest has shown nothing for Micky Hammond, but very well treated on his Irish form for Gordon Elliott is to be feared following wind surgery if the market speaks with confidence. Total Assets switches back to fences after a consistent spell over hurdles, and she seeks to exploit her 10lb lower mark over the larger obstacles, whilst the frustrating Milly Baloo is fitted with a tongue tie tonight. Despite a hefty rise (9lb) for his November Musselburgh success, we'll chance the inconsistent BLUE KASCADE. Hexham can often suit front runners over the spring/summer months, and with a fair career record fresh, the veteran chestnut could feasibly enjoy one last hurrah.