16:05 Hexham

Saturday 12 May 2018

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Castle Building Services 15th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 5m 8.90s

Sigurd³³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 122

40/1

A Market Rasen hurdles winner in April, he certainly appears much stronger over timber than on the level. Not been seen since running at Nottingham on the flat last summer and starts life today with a new yard. Still 4lbs higher than that last win.

Form: 04381/0-

Arthurs Secret³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 120| D

5/1

Had been in good form prior to latest effort at Kelso (3m2f, heavy) where he finished very tired and was discounted after the line. Runs off the same mark here back on better ground and dropping in trip and chances if returning to previous form.

Form: 4/77224-

Quest For Life²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Teal⁽⁷⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 120

12/5

Yet to win but a consistent sort who has been placed on his last four starts. Chances are he's handicapped bang on and is likely to run well again but may find the odd one too good.

Form: 273223-

Full Shift¹⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: B Haslam| OR: 119| D

25/1

Not won for a long time and two runs for this yard were both poor before the turn of the year. Hard to know what to expect again today but att he very least he is starting to look very well handicapped if it all clicks.

Form: 023/4PP-

Well Smitten^p1⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex| OR: 116

9/1

Plenty of bits of promise in three hurdles runs to date and moves into handicap company today on what could be an attractive mark. Cheekpieces go on for the first time and is of definite interest.

Form: 726/U72-

Moscanisi⁵⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Menzies| OR: 112| D

16/1

Won a mares novice contest at Wetherby on her second start under rules, though that was on Boxing Day 2016 and she hasn't been sighted since. Market likely to reveal plenty about expectations in belated follow-up attempt.

Form: 213331/

Its Pandorama^v1⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 112

8/1

Races off a career high mark again today after being raised 7lb for not winning at Sedgefield two starts back. Really struggled last time and hard to be confident with headgear going on for the first time.

Form: 374529-

Howwoulduno¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 108| C

25/1

Can be a temperamental sort and hasn't shown much at all in recent times. Well beaten in a two runner point on return and is best watched here today unless the market suggest otherwise.

Form: 468/722-

Nemean Lion^p1,t¹³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 108| D

5/1

Hurdles winner over 3m at Southwell (good) back in October. Has been struggling in handicaps since but is down further in the weights and this is the easiest race he has contested for a while. Cheekpieces go on and fair claims if back to form.

Form: 219555-

Ten Trees¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: Sally Haynes| OR: 107| C

8/1

Bumper winner here back in 2015. Returned from a long layoff over C&D (soft) three weeks ago and was well beaten. Should be fitter for that run and improvement is likely.

Form: 41412/6-

Red Danaher²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: K Yeoman⁽⁷⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 103| BF| D

12/1

Recent spin over fences was poor but much better as a hurdler and this is more his bag. Only 1lb higher than latest win so can't be ruled out off a nice racing weight.

Form: 174125-

Forecasts

Quest For Life (12/5), Nemean Lion (5/1), Arthurs Secret (5/1), Its Pandorama (8/1), Ten Trees (8/1), Well Smitten (9/1), Red Danaher (12/1), Moscanisi (16/1), Full Shift (25/1), Howwoulduno (25/1), Sigurd (40/1)

Red Danaher is better over hurdles than fences and is respected returned to this discipline. Quest For Life is very likely to run his race again and is sure to be in the shake up. Arthurs Secret will enjoy this more than the bog at Kelso last time and the drop in trip should suit but they may all struggle to beat WELL SMITTEN. He looks on a nice mark for handicap debut and with the cheekpieces added and can record a success.