14:45 Hexham

Friday 9 November 2018

All13:0513:4014:1014:4515:1515:45

Racegoers Club 50th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 4m 5.0s

Hitchcock^b,t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: Barry J Murphy| OR: 102

11/2

Sole win came over 7f on the Flat for Kevin Ryan in September 2017; gradually improving over hurdles (0-5), and beaten just under 9L by a Willie Mullins trained winner at Wexford (2m) latest; first Hexham runner for this trainer.

Form: 65654

Minella Fiveo¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: K Yeoman⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 100| BF| D

4/1

Runner-up off this mark at Carlisle (2m1f) in October, when vainly chasing home the handicap 'good thing' Zabeel Star; not quite as much promise latest (albeit not disgraced); possible pace angle alongside Beyondtheflame.

Form: 666F26

New List^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 99| D

8/1

Eight-race rules maiden who has shown no obvious improvement for wind surgery; slipping in the weights, but was ultimately well beaten (seventh) by the well-handicapped One Night In Milan at Carlisle (2m3f+) latest.

Form: 25P-577

Back To Balloo²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: P Winks| OR: 97| CD

5/1

Veteran who seems to appreciate this tranquil setting; recorded a second course win under an enterprising Ryan Winks ride in May (good), and although nowhere near as encouraging since, reverts to his winning mark with Brian Hughes aboard.

Form: 2-01553

Cataclysm²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: J K Hunter| OR: 94

100/1

Pulled up on both starts for this trainer (spread over 18 months apart); this is a far more suitable option than at Carlisle, but an opening handicap mark of 94 appears to be harsh on all known form.

Form: 040P/P

Little Pippin^p⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 94

10/1

48-rated on the Flat (2-24), and that's a fair reflection of her ability; most certainly hasn't set the world alight over hurdles either, but should be far better suited by handicapping than competing in novice contests.

Form: 550-5

Hellavashock^t1,v⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Craig Nichol| T: A C Whillans| OR: 91

66/1

24-race maiden (0-3 over hurdles); makes his handicap debut this afternoon with an added tongue-tie, but will be living up to his name if returning in the winners enclosure.

Form: P/37

Christmas In Usa^t¹⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 88WS

15/2

A 24-race maiden who has suggested that he can break his duck at some point; running well to get within 5L of the ill-fated Skywards Reward at Wetherby in February (2m heavy); can wind surgery unlock the door?

Form: 64426F-

Dolly's Dot¹⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 81

16/1

All out winner at Sedgefield (2m4f, soft) in March before being edged out in an absolute quagmire at Newcastle (2m4f, heavy) the following month; returns from a summer break 7lb above her winning mark; stable form largely untested this autumn.

Form: 494120-

Herecomesnelson¹⁷⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Callum Bewley| T: K Scott| OR: 77WS

14/1

15-race maiden who has fallen sharply in the handicap since late 2015 (then rated 111); well beaten fourth behind My Escapade at Perth in May and off the track since; first start since wind surgery the only potential positive.

Form: 00P7-94

Towerburn^t¹⁰⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 74

18/1

19-race rules maiden who is a fairly regular visitor to this track; tailed-off at Cartmel in July (2m1f, good); couldn't be entertained even in such a weak race.

Form: PP4-P00

Rock N'stones^v¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 71

10/1

Well out of his depth on the Flat lately; 0-25 over hurdles; 5lb lower than when finishing just over 6L third to Russian Royale over C&D (good) in June; possible, but equally unlikely.

Form: 3P7850

Mighty Mustang¹⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 69

16/1

Hasn't witnessed masses of racing (0-6), but does appear to be fairly devoid of ability; pulled up when last in competitive action at Warwick (2m5f) in March 2017; makes his handicap debut from a basement mark.

Form: P84P/7P

Non-Runners

Beyondtheflame¹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 8

T: J C Haynes J: S Mulqueen

Forecasts

Minella Fiveo (4/1), Back To Balloo (5/1), Hitchcock (11/2), Christmas In Usa (15/2), New List (8/1), Little Pippin (10/1), Rock N'stones (10/1), Herecomesnelson (14/1), Mighty Mustang (16/1), Dolly's Dot (16/1), Towerburn (18/1), Hellavashock (66/1), Cataclysm (100/1), Beyondtheflame (100/1)

A poor race with many longstanding hurdle maidens declared. However, Christmas in Usa deserves to find a winning opportunity and evidently has ability lurking within. Hopefully a summer wind operation can unlock the required improvement, albeit his handler Nick Alexander has had precious few runners so far this season. Therefore, the best advice is to stick towards the top-end of the weights and the shout goes up for the Irish raider HITCHCOCK. His stamina reserves are a concern but he faces very limited opposition and is a notable first runner in England away from Cheltenham for the County Wexford handler Barry John Murphy. A repeat of his recent Wexford form should suffice.