14:40 Hexham

Saturday 1 June 2019

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:4517:20

Derby Day Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 14:43 | Winning time: 4m 18.6s

Another Reason⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: David England| T: O Murphy

8/1

Much better on the AW since being stepped up to 1m4f with longer trips likely to see him in a better light. His form on the Flat so far is nothing special but he needs to be respected here coming from a stable that is on the rise.

Form:

Boreas Duke

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: M & D Easterby

40/1

Never ran on the Flat (non-runner on intended debut); yard have a modest record with their juvenile hurdlers (5% strike-rate). Closely related to a couple of winners but looks best watched on his debut over hurdles.

Form:

Fast Art²²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: S Durack

25/1

Market obviously expected some improvement when he made his handicap debut on the Flat last October; failed to show any improvement. Gelded since and comes here having not run since that handicap outing with stamina to prove.

Form:

For Everyone⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: D R Fox| T: M M McNiff

20/1

Failed to cut much ice in three Flat outings in Ireland showing very little on his stable debut last time stepped up to 1m2f. Others make more appeal as he starts out in this new discipline.

Form:

Green Etoile³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: A King

1/1

Likely to be a leading player with his trainer having a near 30% strike-rate in this sphere. With the same yard when he won on the Flat on handicap debut over 1m4f recently; looks just the sort to prove useful over hurdles at this time of year.

Form:

Major Snugfit³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: M & D Easterby

28/1

Second runner in the race for the trainer who gained his only Flat win on his second start at 50-1. Has failed to emulate that form since including in handicaps at up to 1m4f; needs to find his form again switched to hurdles.

Form:

Our Rodney³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

10/1

Yard have not been short of success in this sphere and on his best Flat form (caused a 100-1 shock over 6f at Pontefract) he would have a chance in this. His form at 1m since leaves a doubt about his stamina but he represents a good team.

Form:

Whiskey And Water³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison

2/1

Fair sort on the Flat although he's yet to win a race six starts but he did finish a creditable second last time to an odds-on shot over 1m4f. Has some other sound enough efforts to his name and deserves more than a second glance.

Form:

Lady Shanawell²²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam

50/1

Modest form in four Flat runs as a juvenile at up to 7f faring little better for the switch to handicaps. Would be a surprise if she could emulate the stable's two previous wins in this race the latest coming last year.

Form:

Maria Magdalena⁶⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: A M Hales

40/1

Four AW Flat runs when with Marco Botti the best of which came on her penultimate outing over 1m4f don't really set the pulse racing. Sold from that yard for 5,500 guineas; now makes her stable/hurdles debut.

Form:

Non-Runners

My Strong Man²⁰⁷

Weight: 10-12| Age: 3

T: P A Kirby J: Thomas Dowson

Forecasts

Green Etoile (1/1), Whiskey And Water (2/1), Another Reason (8/1), Our Rodney (10/1), For Everyone (20/1), Fast Art (25/1), Major Snugfit (28/1), Boreas Duke (40/1), Maria Magdalena (40/1), Lady Shanawell (50/1), My Strong Man (50/1)

The first juvenile hurdle of the season which makes this a contest to tread carefully in with none of these having jumped a hurdle in public before. Alan King has a good record in this sphere and with the best Flat form on offer GREEN ETOILE is taken to make a winning hurdling debut in colours that are no strangers to success over obstacles. Brian Ellison has won this event twice before and his Whiskey And Water presents the main danger along with Another Reason who has some sound enough Flat efforts to his name. Our Rodney from another stable with a good record in this discipline should also take a hand but he does have to prove his stamina.