19:35 Hexham

Saturday 5 May 2018

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

Eve Aitchison Heart Of All England 'Grassroots' Maiden Hunters' Chase

Off time: 19:37 | Winning time: 6m 36.55s

Ballinahow Bill⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D Peters⁽⁷⁾| T: Justin Landy| OR: 113| D

15/8

Represents a top trainer in these type of races and has enjoyed a solid spell in point-to-points. Led early, and was an unchallenged 7L winner of a Ladies Open at Easingwold (3m good) last Sunday.

Form: 9611R-1

Big Bang De Loire⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: Mrs K Smyly| OR: 111| D

16/1

Owner/jockey had a facile winner of a Hunters' Chase here recently, and this seven-year-old arrives fresh from an Open Maiden victory at Brafield-on-the-Green in March (3m good to soft).

Form: 242/451-

Call Zac^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss J Walton⁽³⁾| T: Mrs D Walton| OR: 84

80/1

Maiden pointer who finished just over 1L third to Slanemore Hill in a 3m Open Maiden (heavy) here - on the inner course - last month.

Form: P5/5403-

Fair Exchange^p1¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr G Crow⁽³⁾| T: J J O'Shea| D

33/1

Possibly just needed the race at Tabley last month (3m good to soft), not quite getting home after making plenty of the running. Beat Treliver Manor by 2½L at nearby Corbridge in February.

Form: PB11P4-

For Yes^t,v¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Kit Alexander| T: Mrs L Coltherd| OR: 91| CD

33/1

Pulled up in this race in 2017, but was placed in a 2m4f novice chase here in June. Beaten 25L by Diamond Brig in the 3m2f Buccleuch Cup at Kelso latest.

Form: 135523-

Greensalt^t²³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr William Easterby| T: W Easterby| OR: 117| D

15/8

Duncombe Park winner in February (3m good to soft), he ran a blinder in the Foxhunters' at Aintree last month (2m5f soft) when finishing 6½L third to Balnaslow. Much respected on that showing.

Form: 1B/3133-

Milano Magic^p⁴²

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Nick Orpwood⁽⁵⁾| T: D F Bourke| OR: 95| CD

33/1

With Nick Alexander under rules, but has blossomed in point-to-points, winning five on the bounce in spring 2015. Long in the tooth nowadays, but a runner up in a 3m Mens Open at Overton latest.

Form: 22227/2-

Path To Freedom²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr John Dawson| T: Mrs C Coward| D

4/1

Sports an almost 50% strike rate in point-to-points (5 from 12), but was beaten 20L by Shimla Dawn at odds of 8/11f at Charm Park latest.

Form: 1/12212-

Streets Of Milan¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Tom Strawson⁽⁷⁾| T: C C Pimlott| D

12/1

Carries the Duhallow Tornado silks, and this seven-year-old sports a similar sort of profile to that progressive Hunter Chaser. However, he was beaten 15L by Ballinahow Bill at Duncombe Park in February, so all things being equal needs to progress.

Form: 3P/1212-

Treliver Manor^p,t⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Liam Ruddy⁽⁷⁾| T: A G Dobbin| OR: 79| BF| D

66/1

One of two runners saddled by Tony Dobbin, he provided this 18yo rider with a first ever career success at Balcormo Mains (3m good) last weekend when staying on well to deny Royal Flush by ½L.

Form: 2/5R251-

Steel's Cotton¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss E Todd⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Clark| OR: 84

66/1

Borders trained, this mare loomed into contention in the Buccleuch Cup at Kelso last month before weakening (finished 29L fourth to Diamond Brig). Should appreciate the shorter trip/quicker ground.

Form: 5/40534-

Wizadora¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs C Coward| D

66/1

Finished eighth of 14 in this contest in 2017, and arrives seeking her maiden rules success on the back of a 5½L Witton Castle success (3m good) just a fortnight ago.

Form: R1/8221-

Worcester Pearmain¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Connor Wood⁽⁷⁾| T: A G Dobbin| D

66/1

Not run under rules since November 2015, but has developed into a reliable horse between the flags. Made all to take an Alnwick maiden for this rider (3m gd/soft) in February, but a beaten favourite twice since, including here (inner PTP course).

Form: 2/22132-

Forecasts

Greensalt (15/8), Ballinahow Bill (15/8), Path To Freedom (4/1), Streets Of Milan (12/1), Big Bang De Loire (16/1), For Yes (33/1), Milano Magic (33/1), Fair Exchange (33/1), Wizadora (66/1), Worcester Pearmain (66/1), Treliver Manor (66/1), Steel's Cotton (66/1), Call Zac (80/1)

Forget the 2000 Guineas, the Kentucky Derby and the Thirsk Hunt Cup, in Northumberland the first Saturday in May is all about the Heart Of All England. A prestigious Maiden Hunters' Chase, no quarter will be given a fiercely competitive contest. Justin Landy has proved himself to be an able handler with Ardea, so Ballinahow Bill looks a likely type (holds Streets Of Milan). Both Daragh Bourke and Tony Dobbin know what is takes to ride Hexham winners, and they saddle Milano Magic, Worcester Pearmain and Treliver Manor. However, Aintree Foxhunters third GREENSALT brings the standout form into the race, and looks the likeliest winner for the Easterby's.