15:45 Hexham

Friday 9 November 2018

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

Racing Partnership Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:48 | Winning time: 6m 1.7s

Only Orvieto^p³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 100

13/2

Definite improvement on her second start for this trainer over 2m4f (good) here last month when finishing just over 9L fourth to Isle Of Destiny; mark easing and worth a go over further; chance.

Form: 534P-64

Top Billing¹¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Danny McMenamin⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 99| D

4/1

Last seen in action over fences at Perth in July (3m), but more commonly known as a hurdler and is a five-time winner (once rated in the high 130's); 1lb lower than when beaten 4L by Presence Felt in May (3m, good).

Form: P/064-34

See Double You^p¹¹

Age: 15| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: R McNally| OR: 97| C

6/1

Retired by connections in August 2017, but in such rude health in the field he was brought back for an emotional success at this track (over fences) in September; beaten over hurdles at Ayr since, but likely more suited by Hexham.

Form: 3220-15

Chanceiton^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr Cameron Wadge⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 96

6/1

Driven right out by 7lb claimer Thomas Willmott to score by almost 4L at Kelso (3m1f+, good) last month; given a subsequent 5lb rise, but clearly prefers hurdling to chasing, so could have more too offer.

Form: 562U31

Alto Des Mottes^p¹⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: H Hogarth| OR: 95| C| D

12/1

Hasn't run over hurdles since May 2017 and has badly lost his way over fences, tumbling down the weights accordingly; can probably bounce back at some point (has run well over C&D in the past), but not for today.

Form: P5P3-68

Dee Star²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 92

33/1

Five-race maiden (0-3 over hurdles); back up in trip for handicap debut after finishing a remote last of four in a 2m4f Bangor novice; opening mark appears to be relatively harsh.

Form: 7-55044

Chocolat Noir¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Todhunter| OR: 90| BF

12/1

19-race maiden under all codes (0-10 over hurdles); fairly consistent at Cartmel over the summer (2m6f-3m1f+) and possibly even a shade unlucky there on her penultimate start (fell); place prospects at best only.

Form: 6-623F6

Dubh Des Champs^p1¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 89

10/1

Bought cheaply from Harry Fry in July 2017 (£1,500) and although it's still early days hasn't shown a massive amount of natural ability; cheekpieces are applied after his handicap debut 18L fifth of ten to One Night In Milan (2m3f+, Carlisle).

Form: 0/4-P95

What A Game^b¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 88

28/1

Both of his career wins have come in the Lakes at Cartmel (2m6f), but he's been way short of his best since returning from a 13-month absence in August; chasing latest, 3lb lower than for previous C&D start (eighth of ten).

Form: P12-98P

Lammturner¹⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 88

100/1

Shown precious little ability over hurdles so far (mainly over 2m4f at Sedgefield); an opening mark of 88 is allocated for handicap debut; upped in trip.

Form: F58-6

Lawtop Legend³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 87

11/2

Nine-race maiden, but all of his better efforts have come at this track (C&D); beaten 3L by shock 33/1 winner Moorlands Mist here last month (good); 2lb higher today with very similar ground conditions favourable.

Form: P0-2842

Border Victor^p¹⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 86

28/1

14-race maiden; has regularly made the frame in similar low-grade staying contests, including off a 2lb lower mark when beaten 1L by today's rival Strike West at Carlisle (2m3f+); tack issues on his run immediately prior to a summer break.

Form: P8322-P

It's All About Me¹³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 83

50/1

Stablemate of Strike West; showed bits and pieces of minor ability in bumpers, but has essentially been bitterly disappointing over hurdles; dropped 13lb for two starts in handicap company; new trip worth a try.

Form: 40-7700

Espoir Moriviere³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 82

20/1

Half-brother to the useful 2m hurdle winner Cyrus Moriviere; hasn't shaped all that encouragingly over hurdles thus far; dropped 3lb since his handicap debut rear-division finish at Kelso (2m5f, good); early days, but stable are quiet at present.

Form: 5-060

Midnight Mustang¹⁴⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 81

33/1

18-race hurdles maiden; has won on three occasions over fences (2m4f-3m - mainly with cut in the ground); off the track since June and hasn't raced over the smaller obstacles for almost 2½ years.

Form: 33-5149

Pegasus Walk²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Mrs H O Graham| OR: 74

33/1

0-14 under rules for Rose Dobbin in 2014/15 and whilst he has managed to win a PTP in the interim, was beaten out of sight in a 2m4f maiden here last month on his first rules run since May 2015; no chance.

Form: 41/8PP-8

Non-Runners

Strike West²⁰⁶

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: Micky Hammond J: Finian O'Toole

Turtle Cask¹⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 9

T: M E Sowersby J: Ross Turner

Forecasts

Top Billing (4/1), Lawtop Legend (11/2), Chanceiton (6/1), See Double You (6/1), Strike West (6/1), Only Orvieto (13/2), Dubh Des Champs (10/1), Chocolat Noir (12/1), Alto Des Mottes (12/1), Espoir Moriviere (20/1), Turtle Cask (25/1), Border Victor (28/1), What A Game (28/1), Dee Star (33/1), Midnight Mustang (33/1), Pegasus Walk (33/1), It's All About Me (50/1), Lammturner (100/1)

A challenge numerically, and even allowing for the ground not being testing yet, one can expect these 18-runners to be strung out all over the Northumberland countryside come the finish. Chanceiton is clearly better suited to hurdling than chasing so could continue to progress, but the suspicion was that he landed a fairly modest race at Kelso. ONLY ORVIETO is easing in the weights and this mare could play a fairly prominent role for Mark Walford if handling the extra yardage, with similar comments also applicable to the Micky Hammond-trained Strike West. Others with less obvious claims worthy of each-way consideration are Espoir Moriviere and Dubh Des Champs.