17:50 Hexham

Tuesday 21 May 2019

All17:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:2020:50

Discover Northumberland Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:51 | Winning time: 4m 11.50s

The Character^p,t⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 102| D

9/1

Without a win for in excess of two years (five runs) and has slipped down the weights as a result; trip and ground conditions are fine, but didn't really shape like a future winner at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) latest.

Form: 1/6498-7

Valgor Du Ronceray^p1,t³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 99| D

9/1

Sole win over hurdles came in a 2m maiden at Ballinrobe in August 2017 (for Joseph O'Brien); has fallen a whopping 25lb in the weights since joining Micky Hammond; first-time cheekpieces now accompany the tongue-tie.

Form: 45/P406-

Paddy Melia¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: D Bourke| OR: 95

28/1

Former Irish racer; 50/1 when pulled up on handicap/stable debut at Ayr (2m4f+, good) a fortnight ago; unlikely candidate based on that evidence.

Form: 6055-P

Sleep In First^p²¹⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 94| CD

6/1

Veteran; infrequent winner in recent years, but his last two successes have come at this track/trip (over hurdles and fences) - won race three on this card in 2018; dropped 2lb in the weights for his first start since last October.

Form: V22454-

Sense Of Urgency^h²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L B Normile| OR: 89| CD

3/1

C&D winner from a 4lb higher mark in June 2018 but wide of the mark since; possible that she'll step forward for a recent run at Perth; couldn't be dismissed at a track, or on ground which clearly suits.

Form: 407667-

Cherry Princess^t²⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Quinlan| T: B Butterworth| OR: 88| CD

12/1

Dual C&D winner, 6lb higher than when beating Budarri by 5L in June 2018 (good); went well fresh from a similar absence last season when finishing 7L third to Back To Balloo in this very race.

Form: P/31526-

Fading Icon⁹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Midgley⁽¹⁰⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 92

4/1

11-race maiden (0-7 over hurdles); was with Sheena West when caught close home by Ted Bach at Fontwell (2m3f, soft) in February; now 2lb higher (although ridden by a 10lb claimer) on debut for Phil Kirby; market helpful.

Form: 6638P2-

Frightened Rabbit³⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 84| D

7/2

Best when forcing the pace, although it was a farcical contest that he won at Newcastle (2m, heavy) in March 2017; finished 9L second to The Pine Martin in this race in 2017; first start for 369 days.

Form: 0U056/3-

Towerburn^p,t¹⁵²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Callum Bewley| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 82| CWS

14/1

Hit a rich vein of form here last winter (2m4f, soft) having previously appeared limited in terms of natural ability; 8lb above his last winning mark; likely to find this trip on the short side on a sound surface.

Form: 004128-

Windy Writer^p,t¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: David England| T: S England| OR: 77

14/1

His limitations are exposed for all to see (18-race rules maiden); pulled up at Wetherby on Boxing Day; back in action for Jonathan England in a three-runner Heslaker PTP earlier this month (unseated rider).

Form: P054P/U

Forecasts

Sense Of Urgency (3/1), Frightened Rabbit (7/2), Fading Icon (4/1), Sleep In First (6/1), The Character (9/1), Valgor Du Ronceray (9/1), Cherry Princess (12/1), Windy Writer (14/1), Towerburn (14/1), Paddy Melia (28/1)

Not the strongest of contests, so it's perfectly feasible that the seven-race hurdles maiden Fading Icon can figure positively on debut for Phil Kirby, and the market could well guide. Both Cherry Princess and Frightened Rabbit have made the frame in this race in recent years, with the former preferred of that duo despite returning from a 246-day absence. However, in a race where small stakes are best played, a chance is taken on the June 2018 C&D scorer SENSE OF URGENCY. For her, the forecast conditions will be favourable and she also has the benefit of a recent run at Perth under her belt.