14:15 Hexham

Saturday 16 June 2018

All14:1514:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:40

Marie Curie Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 4m 3.4s

Indian Voyage^t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 101| D

5/1

Adaptable in terms of trip (2m-2m5f) and on the premises over C&D last month (good) beaten just over 3L by Sleep In First (Reverse The Charge second); contender off the same mark with this stable regularly amongst the winners at Hexham.

Form: P584-43

Stormbay Bomber¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 97| D

40/1

Disappointingly not involved in a very winnable race at Southwell just eleven days ago (had won that contest in 2017), having previously shown much more on stable debut at Sedgefield; prominent racer who sits on a fair mark but is inconsistent.

Form: 8P7P-2P

Hurricane Rita⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: P J Brennan| T: C R Dore| OR: 96| D

15/2

Had various trainers including Stuart Coltherd and Olly Murphy, but she's eventually found her way to fences for this yard; difficult to be majorly enthusiastic about her two recent Worcester efforts (2m good).

Form: 630-6F3

Miss Conway²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 96| CD

5/1

Front running mare who thrived at this track last summer; a four-time C&D winner on fast ground (including in this race). Easing back down the weights slowly and has conditions to suit, but just not quite firing yet.

Form: 144F8-7

Milans Well^b¹⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 95

28/1

Won twice under rules for Brendan Powell in 2013/2014, but has struggled in point-to-points for this handler; 66/1 and weakened tamely from two out over 2m4f here a fortnight ago.

Form: 9PP-3P4

Brother Scott³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: B Butterworth| OR: 95| C

22/1

In and out performer who is difficult to predict but expected to have needed the run over C&D in May (well beaten); however, is no stranger to a decent effort at Hexham and beaten just 1¼L by Miss Conway in this race in 2017.

Form: 20628-8

Roman Numeral¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: D Thompson| OR: 86| D

12/1

Back to winning ways over 2m at Southwell earlier this month (18/1) and holds Stormbay Bomber solely on that evidence; up 5lb and had earlier posted a fair C&D fifth to Sleep In First (Reverse The Charge second).

Form: P46-851

Agentleman¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Ryan Winks⁽⁵⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 85

7/2

22-race rules maiden who returned from a nine-month break to finish a neck second to Key To The West at Market Rasen recently (2m1f good). Upped in trip for just his second start for this stable (also amongst the winners here last month).

Form: PPRUP-2

Rhythm Of Sound^t,v²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 81| D

18/1

Posted a couple of poor efforts since winning back-to-back races in November 2017 (2m) and can't be considered based on his latest C&D run, even allowing for that being his first start for five months. Finished fourth in this in 2017 (beaten 2L).

Form: 5F119-9

Reverse The Charge^p²⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 77

11/1

29-race maiden, but has somehow found some recent improvement and is closely matched with Indian Voyage on their C&D clash last month; possibilities but he'd be a brave shout nonetheless.

Form: 9P3P-32

Teescomponents Max¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Miss E Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 76

7/1

19-race maiden who has yet to excel over fences; having his first attempt over the larger obstacles since June 2016 at Market Rasen recently and unfortunately unseated his rider at the sixth fence.

Form: 3282-4U

Roll Of Thunder¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: J Walton| OR: 74| CD

16/1

Won just once in 33 attempts and has failed to complete in three of his four starts over fences, including when unseating his rider at the tenth over 2m4f here latest.

Form: PP36-6U

Warksburn Boy²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Walton| OR: 63

80/1

21-race maiden who has been well beaten over C&D on his last three starts and holds next to no chance racing from out of the handicap.

Form: P3/4P-P8

Forecasts

Agentleman (7/2), Miss Conway (5/1), Indian Voyage (5/1), Teescomponents Max (7/1), Hurricane Rita (15/2), Reverse The Charge (11/1), Roman Numeral (12/1), Roll Of Thunder (16/1), Rhythm Of Sound (18/1), Brother Scott (22/1), Milans Well (28/1), Stormbay Bomber (40/1), Warksburn Boy (80/1)

Very typically a Hexham race, with many of these horses knowing their way around here blindfolded. The 1/2/4 from 12 months ago line-up again, but all of that trio (Miss Conway, Brother Scott and Rhythm Of Sound) are failing to operate so effectively at present, so we'll focus upon the race here on May 22nd for the solution. Reverse The Charge (second) finished in front of INDIAN VOYAGE (third), subsequent winner Roman Numeral (fifth) and Roll Of Thunder (sixth) when getting nearest to the winner Sleep In First. However, the Maurice Barnes trained horse rates as the safest option to run his race despite top-weight and he's the selection.