19:30 Hexham

Tuesday 22 May 2018

All18:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Northumberland County Show 2018 Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 19:30 | Winning time: 5m 22.38s

Alfiboy^h²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 98

8/1

Evidently hasn't been the easiest horse to train, but returned from wind surgery with a solid run over hurdles on deep ground at Newcastle in April (2m), beaten just ¾L by Chasseur De Tete. Not jump well on sole previous attempt over fences.

Form: P/FP027-

Next Level^t¹⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 98

7/2

Point-to-point winner (3m yielding) who ran his best race under rules on his handicap debut (novices) at Uttoxeter in May 2017 (2m7f+ good). Off since November having joined this trainer for £12,000 in January 2018.

Form: P4PP/20-

Bennachie^p,t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: David Noonan| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 95| D

7/2

Back from a short break with victory at Plumpton (2m3f+) last month and followed up off the same mark at Taunton next time (2m5f+). Obvious contender from his new mark on good ground in a fairly modest race.

Form: U23211-

Bafana Blue^t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 93

11/2

Has shown some ability over hurdles (mainly as a novice), but is win-less in 11 attempts over the smaller obstacles. Half-brother to 2m4f-3m chase winner Apache Prince and stable in form, so some reasons to be hopeful ahead of chasing debut.

Form: 25P49-8

Royal Mandate^v¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Menzies| OR: 91

7/1

Beaten 14L on his chasing debut at Kelso earlier this month (2m5f+) and ideally needs to drop the anchor early if bidding to build upon that effort. Formerly with Dan Skelton, so is one to keep on side for the moment.

Form: 83566-3

Eager To Know¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 81

9/1

Made mistakes on his first run back from wind surgery over 3m here earlier this month, so it's difficult to fully gauge the effectiveness of that work. Would be of more interest if/when switched back to hurdles.

Form: 4/33FP-7

Towerburn^t³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 80

16/1

A wind operation hasn't led to an upturn in fortunes, and this 16-race rules maiden (dual point scorer) was beaten in excess of 10L by Make It Happen at Kelso latest (2m2f+ hurdle, heavy).

Form: 5F2PP4-

Scorpo¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: K Yeoman⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 76

100/1

In free-fall in the weights, but even a cursory glance at his overall form figures tells the reason why; now a ten race maiden.

Form: 46PP-09

Court Painter^p⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 73| D

14/1

Now 0 from 15 under rules, and although showing up respectably for a long way at Perth last week (2m4f good), he was weak at the business end, finishing 18¾L fourth to Boy's On Tour.

Form: 3P6-964

Daydream Island^b1⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Walton| OR: 68

25/1

0 from 24 under rules and appears to be fairly devoid of ability. Needs the first time blinkers to buck up his ideas massively.

Form: P7V6-49

Thedfactor^p²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 53

33/1

Pulled up wearing a first time tongue tie over 3m here in April, and whilst fairly lightly raced after making just nine starts under rules is increasingly looking like a lost cause.

Form: 40P78P-

Forecasts

Next Level (7/2), Bennachie (7/2), Bafana Blue (11/2), Royal Mandate (7/1), Alfiboy (8/1), Eager To Know (9/1), Court Painter (14/1), Towerburn (16/1), Daydream Island (25/1), Thedfactor (33/1), Scorpo (100/1)

Tim Vaughan sends the hat-trick seeking BENNACHIE on the long journey north from the Vale Of Glamorgan (8 from 50; 16% here since 2005), and whilst respectful to the other connections, must be delighted to see his improving Milan gelding presented with another golden winning opportunity. Whilst some of the others aren't wholly exposed over fences (i.e. Royal Mandate, Alfiboy and Bafana Blue), equally they weren't the most progressive of hurdlers either. The now Jamie Snowden trained Next Level rates as the chief threat to the selection.