14:15 Hexham

Saturday 13 October 2018

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

interbet.com Sports Betting Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 5m 20.20s

Bako De La Saulaie²⁰⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 122| BF

8/1

Proved himself as a solid stayer over hurdles (3m winner), and whilst still to get off the mark over fences (0-4) produced an excellent effort at Doncaster (3m soft) in January when beaten ½L by Shanroe In Milan.

Form: 11/4224-

Granard¹⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 120| BF

3/1

Bombed out on truly desperate ground at Newcastle in April (2m4f novices hurdle, heavy), but had shown promise prior to that and is bred for chasing; market should provide the clues as to what is expected on chasing debut.

Form: P2/314-

Free Range^p⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 118

66/1

Made all when winning unchallenged for Micky Hammond at Kelso (2m5f+, good) in May, but bitterly disappointing on both subsequent starts for this trainer, and faces a stiff task from a mark which is still 7lb higher than at Kelso.

Form: 244-14P

Creadan Grae¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: G Elliott| OR: 117| D

2/1

In fine fettle at Perth in recent times, losing little in defeat to the progressive Justatenner (3m hurdle) on his penultimate start; has made all and kept on strongly to beat Fiddlers Bow by almost 4L over fences (2m4f, good) since; solid.

Form: 4-84P21

Heart Of Kernow³⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: N J Hawke| OR: 115| CD

5/1

2-2 over hurdles at this track, but was a fortuitous winner on the second occasion (2m7f+ soft), being left 12L clear at the last (when booked for second); off since, and switches to fences with Brian Hughes booked to ride.

Form: 7/11-

The Paddy Pie¹¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 115| CD

14/1

Shown much improved form since joining Sue Smith; course record (2m4f hurdles) reads 2,1; 12/1, stayed on strongly to win unchallenged over C&D in June (beat Something Brewing); couldn't be dismissed on rules chasing debut.

Form: 09P-821

Showem Silver³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 112| D

16/1

Lost his way for previous trainer Noel Meade, with recent form figures of PFP hardly inspiring; 0-7 over fences and starts off life in England for a new handler; better with more time and an ease in the weights (for handicaps).

Form: 680PFP

Sophie Olivia³⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Todhunter| OR: 108| C

16/1

2m course hurdles winner (September 2017), but was rather gifted that novice event with an uncontested lead; off the track for 11 months and switched to fences for the first time in a very competitive heat.

Form: 632/128-

Le Frank^t¹⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 102WS

16/1

Sizeable, scopey sort who is very much built for chasing, so no surprise he's rather under-performed over hurdles; had wind surgery since running at Perth in April; one to keep an eye upon for the future with improvement likely over fences.

Form: 3/4304-

Dakota Grey³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 100

8/1

Has ability, but isn't the most battle-hardy and is somewhat of a frustrating type; 0-7 over fences so far, and 3lb higher for going under by a ½L and a short-head to Ange Des Malberaux at Perth (3m, good) last month.

Form: 5-44U33

Non-Runners

Something Brewing³¹

Weight: 10-4| Age: 4

T: I Jardine J: C O'Farrell

Forecasts

Creadan Grae (2/1), Granard (3/1), Heart Of Kernow (5/1), Bako De La Saulaie (8/1), Dakota Grey (8/1), Something Brewing (10/1), The Paddy Pie (14/1), Sophie Olivia (16/1), Le Frank (16/1), Showem Silver (16/1), Free Range (66/1)

A smashing race with a sizeable turnout which will no doubt please the Hexham regulars. A fierce pace is likely from the onset with a number of the runners including Free Range, The Paddy Pie, Sophie Olivia and the respected Perth winner Creadan Grae all known for racing prominently. This could expose any fencing flaws of the less experienced chasers such as the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Granard, and also set the race up for a proven stayer. The topweight BAKO DE LA SAULAIE fits this bill perfectly, and although high in the weights for Alnwick handler Rose Dobbin, could yet prove strong at the business end with some solid chasing form in the book.