17:50 Hexham
Thursday 14 March 2019
All13:5514:3515:1515:5516:3517:1517:50
Next Meeting Tuesday 26th March Maiden Hurdle
- 4YO plus | Class 5 | 2m 4f 28y | Heavy | 13 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 17:50 | Winning time: 5m 35.45s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Unraced French-bred gelding; kicks-off his racing career in what appears to be suitable company, and with little else to base a solid judgement upon, the market could prove the best guide to his overall chances.
Flemensfirth gelding; half-brother to a couple of winners (bumper and a PTP); never looked like being able to get competitive in a couple of starts in bumpers; steps up in trip for hurdles debut.
Low-key in bumpers and in truth has fared no better since switched to hurdles; struggling from halfway when finishing a distant sixth of seven to Dream Du Grand Val at Kelso (2m, good) in February; steps up in trip.
Only completed once in five starts in PTP's and hasn't impressed under rules so far; early faller at Kelso (2m, good to soft) 12-days ago.
10L winner on the PTP course at Hexham in December (for Sue Grant); relishes cut underfoot and a test of stamina; hasn't figured under rules so far (0-2) but this rates as a more realistic assignment.
Bought for £65,000 after winning a 3m Irish PTP (Tattersalls Farm) for Shark Hanlon in December 2018; raced keenly when finishing 23L third of five to the useful Ask Ben at Ayr (3m, good to soft) in January.
Reasonable pedigree (dam an unraced half-sister to Skipthescales); has shown clear improvement on each of his three starts over hurdles, namely when getting to within 6¾L of Highland Hunter over C&D (heavy) in December; every chance.
Well beaten in two starts in bumpers and a similar story when left a remote second behind Hogan's Height on hurdles debut at Catterick (3m1f+, good); holds no conceivable chance.
Still searching for that elusive first hurdles win (0-9) with signs that she's going the wrong way (blinkered). However, ought to be reasonably competitive based upon her fair form in 2016; fifth ever Hexham runner for Oliver Sherwood.
Simply far too keen to do herself any sort of justice in bumpers; will need to learn to settle over hurdles in order to have a more positive future as a racehorse; watching brief advised for the moment.
Looks to be light on ability and sadly for her connections it doesn't appear that the expense of wind surgery has led to any significant upturn in fortunes; holds a similar chance to Trans Des Obeaux (very remote).
Ten-race hurdles maiden; consistent since joining Ian Williams and wasn't beat at all far (finished third) behind a 128-rated rival at Exeter (2m7f+) in January; the booking of Brian Hughes in the saddle is an obvious plus.
Poor on the Flat for Mick Channon (0-3); pulled up on both starts for this Embleton-based trainer who was among the winners at Sedgefield on Tuesday; look elsewhere with confidence.
Forecasts
Whispering Affair (9/4), Toi Storey (3/1), Robinesse (3/1), Speak Of The Devil (4/1), Pieceoftheaction (12/1), Epsom Des Mottes (28/1), Into The Breach (33/1), Mymilan (50/1), Forest Fusion (80/1), Trans Des Obeaux (125/1), Sailing Away (250/1), Samba Time (250/1), Bow Street Runner (250/1)
Very few enter the reckoning in what represents a golden opportunity to break the maiden for those on the short-list. Robinesse clearly has ability but evidently has had issues and she's surely reaching the last chance saloon for Oliver Sherwood. Similarly Whispering Affair is a longstanding maiden, although it's worth acknowledging that she's shown consistent form since joining Ian Williams. Speak Of The Devil is potentially the best long-term prospect but he looks in need of more experience and cost plenty at £65,000. Therefore, the confident form-based option is December's C&D third TOI STOREY for the Sedgefield trainer Rebecca Menzies.
- Toi Storey
- Whispering Affair
- Robinesse
Prize Money
1st: £3,444.002nd: £1,011.003rd: £506.004th: £253.00
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