14:00 Hexham

Thursday 20 December 2018

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:00

Seasons Greetings From Racecourse Executive Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:02 | Winning time: 6m 29.8s

Misfits^t⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 102| C

6/4

Readily drew clear from three out when scoring by 19L over fences here (3m, soft) in October; just worn down late on over C&D last week from this mark back over timber and sure to go well again it seems.

Form: 5-P6142

Achill Road Boy¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 100| C

4/1

9lb higher than when scoring at Carlisle over 3m2f (good to soft) in March over fences. Fair effort back there last week on second run off a layoff, but has appeared better chaser in the past and hurdles mark plenty high.

Form: 614-U33

Broadway Belle¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: D B Hurst⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 95| CD

25/1

Recorded her first two career wins in the summer at up to 3m3f, including on good ground over this C&D in June off a mark 6lb lower. Hopelessly tailed off at Carlisle 18 days ago and hard to recommend as such.

Form: 16-3148

Cudgel¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: J Walton| OR: 88

40/1

Unimpressive four-race career so far, including when tailed off last week on handicap bow at Kelso over 2m6½f on good to soft ground. Hard to see the positives.

Form: 9070

Dontdelay⁵⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 84

20/1

11 starts so far over timber without finishing within hailing distance of the place-getters. Returning from 581-day absence now and can only be watched.

Form: 94P00/0-

Agent Louise^p¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: R D Day| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 84| D

16/1

2m7½f Uttoxeter winner in March was second next at Sedgefield, albeit beaten 33L, under a penalty. Mare isn't getting any younger and she was tailed off this month on return at Haydock over this trip. 10lb above previous win-mark.

Form: PP512-7

Towerburn^t⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Callum Bewley| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 83| C

11/4

Left his previous form well behind when winning by an unchallenged 9L over 2m4f here last month; finished clear of the rest when second (beaten 12L) having gone up 10lb next time. Worth another try at this trip in current mood.

Form: P00412

Turtle Cask^p⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 81| CD

8/1

Winner over C&D on heavy ground in September 2017. The poor efforts are mounting up now though, and while the handicapper has eased him 5lb since last week's heavy C&D defeat, tough see that making all the difference.

Form: 25-0P89

Millrose Bell^p1⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: B S Hughes| T: V Thompson| OR: 69

20/1

Had shown glimmers of ability in her early days over hurdles but that initial lustre has soon faded. Pulled up in two of three starts recently, including here over 2m4f, she's 7lb 'wrong' here and easily overlooked going up in trip.

Form: 657-P4P

Non-Runners

Kerry's Lord²²⁸

Weight: 10-0| Age: 9

T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Misfits (6/4), Towerburn (11/4), Achill Road Boy (4/1), Turtle Cask (8/1), Agent Louise (16/1), Dontdelay (20/1), Millrose Bell (20/1), Broadway Belle (25/1), Kerry's Lord (33/1), Cudgel (40/1)

Plenty of these have questions to answer but not so MISFITS, last week's C&D second. A winner here over fences in October, he was just collared late on seven days ago, the front two having cleared away. He's off the same mark now and compensation may await. The danger is Towerburn, much-improved of late and well worth another try over this extended trip having won well here last month before finishing second under a 9lb ratings-hike last week over 2m4f. He, too, is running from an unchanged mark today. The likes of Turtle Cask, Achill Road Boy, Agent Louise and Broadway Belle would have claims at best, but lack recent positives.