Port Of Blyth Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:03 | Winning time: 4m 16.99s

Card Game¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Aiden Blakemore⁽⁷⁾| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 125| CD

13/8

Made the most of this riders claim when making nearly all to score by 1¾L over C&D in early May. Up 5lb, but surely remains competitive having also finished second off a similar mark here in June 2017 (2m4f).

Form: 34/329-1

Spectator^t,v¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: David Noonan| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 117| D

3/1

Not beaten far finishing a close up third to Christmas in April when upped to 2m5f at Warwick latest after showing consistent form earlier in 2018; most notably when beating the thriving Morning With Ivan at Musselburgh in January (2m3f+ soft).

Form: 25143-3

Rockalzaro⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 112| D

8/1

Didn't appear to stay when tried over a longer trip at Catterick in February (2m3f+), so no real surprise to see him dropped back to 2m. Lightly raced in handicap company and could prove to be a stronger horse for the short break.

Form: 3/13137-

Mr Snoozy^p¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Miss E Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 110

5/1

Beaten 6L by Newstart in a C&D seller earlier this month, and in truth that appears to be his level nowadays. Ground fine, but is ideally suited by a slightly longer trip.

Form: 1/1468-3

Green Zone⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 107| D

22/1

Perth specialist who has lacked much sparkle for a number of months, but is falling back to a handy mark. Turned out quickly down in trip after finishing a respectable fifth to Traditional Dancer last week (2m4f).

Form: 70P4-05

Red Ochre⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 105

11/2

A ten race maiden, but has shown signs of ability including over the extended 2m trip at Market Rasen in March (good to soft) when beaten 1¾L by The Blue Bomber. More to do from a 4lb higher mark.

Form: 536352-

Forecasts

Card Game (13/8), Spectator (3/1), Mr Snoozy (5/1), Red Ochre (11/2), Rockalzaro (8/1), Green Zone (22/1)

Ruth Jefferson took full advantage of Aiden Blakemore's 10lb claim with CARD GAME here earlier in the month. With that claim now reduced to 7lb, and with a subsequent 5lb rise in the weights, the nine-year-old mare effectively races from an 8lb higher mark tonight. However, she's proved herself off a similar mark at this track in the past (2m4f) and arrives in better shape than the bulk of her rivals. The exception to that statement comes from the likely major danger Spectator who has kept solid form for the entire calendar year thus far.