13:20 Hexham

Wednesday 21 November 2018

All12:5013:2013:5014:2514:5515:30

Hexham Racecourse Membership An Ideal Xmas Present Novices' Chase

Off time: 13:21 | Winning time: 6m 49.50s

Blottos³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 0-0| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 120

12/1

3-7 over hurdles (124-rated) and with a proven ability on soft ground (rain is forecast); lacked any form of fluency on chasing debut at Carlisle (2m, good to soft) last month but a slower early pace (3m) could assist today.

Form: 211PP-0

Georges Conn¹⁷

Age: 18| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: J P Ryan| OR: 118

Form: 521P30

Donna's Diamond²²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 0-0| J: Callum Bewley| T: C Grant| OR: 129| BF| D

7/4

Much improved hurdler in the 2017/18 season, winning the Grade 2 Rendlesham at Haydock (2m7f, heavy) in February before an ambitious tilt at the Stayers Hurdle (ran with credit); 149-rated; interesting to see what he's capable of back over fences.

Form: U4/1102-

Dark Valley⁹

Age: 16| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: Micky Hammond

Form: 2P3/3-0

Nine O Three^p,t1⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 0-0| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| D

125/1

Tongue-tie fitted for his third start under rules (very poor so far); looks to be out of his depth against some potentially above average northern-based novice chasers.

Form: 4/P21-P0

Senor Lombardy³⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 0-0| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 137| C| D

1/1

Cost €125,000 in April 2017; showed plenty of ability in bumpers and over hurdles (runner up to Coole Hall in the 2017 French Furze Novices' Hurdle); every inch a chaser in the making (dam a half-sister to Irish National winner Glebe Lad).

Form: 1/2112-

Fly Rory Fly¹⁷²

Age: 14| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: N W Alexander| OR: 112

Form: F294-26

Top Cat Dj^t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 0-0| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 68| D

200/1

0-28 over fences under rules and simply can't be the solution against these far more abundantly talented rivals; no chance barring accidents.

Form: 45-8U46

Top Ville Ben^h²¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 0-0| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| D

5/1

Talented performer for both Phil Kirby and previous trainer Nicky Henderson; 139-rated over hurdles and a proven stayer in testing conditions; much respected on rules chasing debut (1-1 in PTP's) despite a couple of falls over hurdles in early 2018.

Form: 21PF8F-

Jot'em Down⁹⁸⁰

Age: 15| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: D G Bridgwater

Form: 4510/

Lovenormoney²⁵¹

Age: 15| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: W Greatrex| D

Form: 3/61710-

Now Mcginty²²

Age: 15| Weight: 0-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: S Edmunds| OR: 143

Form: 00112-2

Road To Gold²¹⁹

Age: 17| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: N W Alexander| OR: 104| D

Form: 35/P524-

Skipthecuddles²⁰⁷

Age: 15| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| D

Form: P5501F-

Skipthescales²⁴

Age: 14| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: P A Kirby| D

Form: 31413-0

Forecasts

Senor Lombardy (1/1), Donna's Diamond (7/4), Top Ville Ben (5/1), Blottos (12/1), Nine O Three (125/1), Top Cat Dj (200/1)

An intriguing novices' chase which wouldn't look out of place at a more prestigious track. The classy Donna's Diamond is a far stronger horse these days and having reportedly schooled well is massively respected on his first start over the larger obstacles for over two years. Top Ville Ben should also make his mark in this division during the course of the season, but a clear preference is for the strapping SENOR LOMBARDY. He was only ever marking time over hurdles, and with time and experience could well shape up into one of the best novice chasers in the northern region.