Challenge Northumberland Events Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:55 | Winning time: 6m 14.20s

Donnas Dream^b1¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Willmott⁽³⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 98

4/1

Left Chris Grant after running in a seller at Wetherby (2m3f+) in April; tailed-off on recent stable debut and looking increasingly unlikely that she'll ever fulfil her early career promise; eased in the weights; blinkers now applied.

Form: 30344-0

Real Armani^h1⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Coltherd| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 92

16/1

Any promise that he has shown in bumpers/novice hurdles has been in limited supply with his second at Musselburgh on his hurdling debut yet to be backed up; the switch to handicaps may eke out some improvement (not guaranteed); newly hooded.

Form: 70296-

It's All About Me⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 88

2/1

13-race maiden, although considered very unlucky not to win at Catterick (3m1f+) on New Year's Day; back from a break with a reasonable effort at Wetherby (again under Emma Smith-Chaston); stablemate of Witness.

Form: 700625-

Farlam King^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: D B Hurst⁽¹⁰⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 85

11/8

Still seeking that elusive first success (0-10) but in all fairness is improving at a lowly-level; was racing from out of the handicap when beaten 2½L by Emerald Chieftain at Kelso (2m6f, good) a fortnight ago; place prospects.

Form: 86402-2

Roberttown Rose⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: A Crook| OR: 79

22/1

Eight-race maiden who is yet to remotely threaten to trouble the judge; badly hampered when unseating her rider between obstacles when upped to 3m at Wetherby (100/1) six-weeks ago.

Form: 8/0356U-

Andhaar^t,v²⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 10-4| J: Blair Campbell| T: N W Alexander| OR: 76| CD

10/1

Veteran; stayed on well from the last to beat Lawtop Legend by 8L in this race in 2018 (11/2); able to compete from an identical handicap mark (76) this time around, but beginning to show signs that age is slowly catching up with him.

Form: 8634P0-

Non-Runners

Witness¹⁰

Weight: 11-9| Age: 10

T: Micky Hammond J: Billy Garritty

Forecasts

Witness (5/4), Farlam King (11/8), It's All About Me (2/1), Donnas Dream (4/1), Andhaar (10/1), Real Armani (16/1), Roberttown Rose (22/1)

Micky Hammond has a very strong hand in the finale courtesy of the Billy Garritty ridden WITNESS and the Emma-Smith Chaston ridden It's All About Me. However, such was the manner in which the selection readily disposed of his rivals when taking an identical C&D conditional jockey's handicap hurdle, he's confidently expected to make light of a 6lb rise in the weights and double up in the hands of a promising young rider. Of the remainder, Farlam King holds realistic place claims having shown signs of improvement (at a lowly-level) of late.