15:15 Hexham

Sunday 23 June 2019

All14:1014:4515:1515:5016:2516:5517:30

Visit attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 5m 4.9s

Morraman²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 122

7/2

7lb higher than when winning at Wetherby (2m5f, good) in April; produced with a winning challenge at Cartmel (2m6f, good) latest, only to be worn down close home by the rallying Becky The Thatcher; merits respect.

Form: 31341-2

Nefyn Bay^t³²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 119| DWS

40/1

Stablemate of Morraman; last raced over hurdles when winning at Musselburgh (3m) in February 2018; now 14lb higher in the weights; returns from 326 days off the track (has had wind surgery in the interim).

Form: 14/514P-

Raising The Bar⁷⁴

11/2

Returned to action earlier this year (February) following a break from racing for a period of 21 months; hasn't really convinced over hurdles so far, although it is early days in handicap company; trainer is 3-6 (50%) at Hexham.

Form: 652/420-

Gallahers Cross¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Bourke| OR: 115

20/1

Irish PTP/bumper winner who joined Grech & Parkin for £260,000 in November 2017; 0-3 for Nicky Henderson and moved on for £42,000 in May 2019; well beaten (post wind surgery) in a 2m Bangor maiden on stable debut; goes handicapping.

Form: 114/47-8

Kick On Dottie²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 114| CD

28/1

Won back-to-back novice hurdles here in May 2018 (2m-2m4f), beating The Paddy Pie by 6L on the latter occasion; not fluent when struggling on return from an 11 month absence at Cartmel 29 days ago; tough looking handicap mark.

Form: 8P/115-5

Lord Wishes^b,t²⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 114| CD

6/1

Versatile veteran who mixes hurdling with chasing; has enjoyed success at this track in the past; arrives off a decisive 14L win over fences at Cartmel (2m5f, good to soft); can he capitalise upon a very handy hurdles mark?

Form: 06/443-1

Melody Of Scotland^v²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 113| C

4/1

Clobbered by the handicapper for winning by 7L over 2m here (good to soft) three weeks ago, and that's probably harsh when you consider the heavily backed 8/11 favourite fell at the third; visor evidently suits; should stay on pedigree.

Form: 773P-01

Something Brewing^p¹⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 112| C

9/1

2lb higher than when finishing a keeping on 1½L second to The Paddy Pie in this race in 2018 (good); appears to reserve his best efforts for this track (C&D winner); has been freshened up with a short break; isn't discounted.

Form: 22F434-

Sixties Star²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Henry Brooke| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 106

12/1

Wasn't disgraced when finishing fifth to the 1/2f Glinger Flame over 2m here in April, and went closer (runner up) at Cartmel latest; more to do in a stronger race (on handicap debut); one to monitor for the future.

Form: 2/2PP5-2

Champagne To Go^p²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 105| D

10/1

Shrewd purchase for just £1,000 in January 2018; sits on her last winning mark (2m4f, Sedgefield) and should come on for her recent C&D comeback fourth to Tickenwolf (beaten 18½L); holds place prospects.

Form: 431P5-4

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 10p in the pound

Non-Runners

Desert Island Dusk⁴³

Weight: 11-5| Age: 8

T: M A Barnes J: Dale Irving

Loupgarou³⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: J J Lambe J: Liam McKenna

Forecasts

Morraman (7/2), Melody Of Scotland (4/1), Raising The Bar (11/2), Lord Wishes (6/1), Desert Island Dusk (8/1), Something Brewing (9/1), Champagne To Go (10/1), Sixties Star (12/1), Gallahers Cross (20/1), Loupgarou (20/1), Kick On Dottie (28/1), Nefyn Bay (40/1)

A competitive handicap hurdle in which Nicky Henderson (3-6, 50% at Hexham) is represented by Raising The Bar. Melody Of Scotland was evidently suited by the application of a visor when scoring readily over 2m here three weeks ago and although she should stay this trip on pedigree, a subsequent 11lb weights rise appears excessive. Something Brewing was runner up in this race in 2018 and would enter calculations if the market speaks positively, while the top-weight Morraman should be on the premises dropping back in trip to 2m4f. However, we'll chance the very well handicapped veteran LORD WISHES who hacked up over fences at Cartmel a month ago.