20:35 Hexham

Saturday 4 May 2019

All17:3018:0018:3519:0519:3520:0520:35

carpetgallop.co.uk All Weather Gallops Handicap Chase

Off time: 20:38 | Winning time: 5m 19.60s

Uno Valoroso²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Walford| OR: 102| C

13/2

Veteran; without a win since late 2017 (Bangor, 2m1½f soft); slowly inching back down the weights to a more competitive looking handicap mark (placed at Kelso latest); would be better suited by rain - precious little is forecast.

Form: 5/25423-

Ever So Much^p⁶²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 100| CD

10/1

In excellent form during the spring of 2018, recording back-to-back C&D wins (rated 2lb above his last winning mark); poor throughout the duration of the 2018/19 jumps season (pulled up on his last three starts).

Form: 254PPP-

Opechee¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: G Sheehan| T: L Egerton| OR: 97

9/2

Decisive Stratford winner (2m3f, good) for David Bridgwater in August 2018; joined current connections for £600 in March 2019; fenced poorly throughout when beaten 2L by Dallas Cowboy at Market Rasen (2m1f, good) 13 days ago.

Form: 24PP32-

Brother Scott²²⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: B Butterworth| OR: 91| CD

33/1

Old-stager who appreciates a sound surface and knows his way around Hexham (ample reasonable 2m-2m4f form at this track); off for 227 days since finishing just over 3L third to Trongate at Kelso (2m5f+) in September 2018.

Form: 28/8063-

Mrs Vonn²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 90

11/2

Off the mark at the fifth time of asking over fences when forging clear of The Road Home (Lucinda Russell) over an extended 2m5f at Kelso (good to soft) last month; holds every chance off a 7lb higher mark.

Form: 7924P1-

Reverse The Charge^p²³

Age: 12| Weight: 10-10| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 84| C

25/1

Veteran who took an eternity to break his duck, but has won on a further two occasions since scoring over 2m here in June 2018 (beat Agentleman by 3¾L); raced prominently before weakening quickly on recent reappearance.

Form: 341175-

Roll Of Thunder¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: J Walton| OR: 79| C

9/2

Badly out of sorts until making the most of a free-falling handicap mark at Carlisle (2m5f, good) a fortnight ago; 6lb higher today; won over hurdles at this track (made all) in June 2015.

Form: 6U6571-

Apache Pilot^t,v¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-4| J: D B Hurst⁽¹⁰⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 78| CD

5/2

Hexham regular; has filled the minor placings (well beaten) over 3m here on his last couple of starts; finished 5L third to Sharney Sike in this contest 12 months ago (and now rated 8lb lower); couldn't be discounted.

Form: P3U833-

Duhallowcountry^b¹⁹

Age: 13| Weight: 10-2| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 76

28/1

Front-runner; in reasonable shape of late with a couple of surprise wins (Sedgefield and Newcastle); well held fourth to the subsequent Southwell scorer Johnny Yuma over 2m here (good) 19 days ago.

Form: 861914-

Forecasts

Apache Pilot (5/2), Roll Of Thunder (9/2), Opechee (9/2), Mrs Vonn (11/2), Uno Valoroso (13/2), Ever So Much (10/1), Reverse The Charge (25/1), Duhallowcountry (28/1), Brother Scott (33/1)

A low-grade finale which is mainly populated by veteran handicappers. An exception is the mare Mrs Vonn who could well prove capable of following up her recent Kelso win (wasn't unsupported in the market despite being sent off at odds of 20/1). That said, there are other realistic alternatives at potentially more rewarding odds. One must forgive Ever So Much for his efforts during the 2018/19 jumps season, but assuming that he's back on song he merits each-way consideration with ground conditions in his favour. However, for very small stakes we'll chance the Hexham regular APACHE PILOT who finished 5L third to Sharney Sike in this contest 12 months ago.