15:50 Hexham

Sunday 23 June 2019

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

Alan McNestry Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 6m 21.4s

Central Flame²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: J Walton| OR: 115| C| D

20/1

Veteran; an 11-race maiden over fences (rules), and very much one of those nearly horses; always in the rear (as is customary), but was beaten when falling three out in a C&D Beginners' Chase three weeks ago.

Form: PP333/P

School Lane^b⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: C O'Farrell| T: L Lennon| OR: 112| D

3/1

Still looking for a first career win (0-10) but has been an admirably consistent front runner over fences in Ireland; caught close home when beaten 3½L by Amaulino in the Ulster National at Downpatrick (3m4f+) in March.

Form: 24224-2

Classical Milano²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 108| CD

9/2

Dual C&D winner who has been raised 5lb in the weights since beating Dun Faw Good by 7L here (good to soft) three weeks ago; a game 1¾L winner of this race in 2018; will face plenty of competition for the lead today.

Form: 73P96-1

Petite Ganache^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 100

5/1

Stays well as demonstrated when winning over hurdles at Newcastle (2m6f, good to soft) in January; solid enough since introduced to chasing (232), beaten 3L by the front running Cake De L'Isle at Kelso latest.

Form: 3152-32

Nortonthorpelegend¹⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: R Menzies| OR: 100| BF| D

9/1

Like School Lane and Classical Milano this money spinning 9yo is best suited by adopting forcing tactics; off the track since failing to land the hat-trick at Sedgefield in January; it remains to be seen if Hexham is his ideal track.

Form: PP6114-

Chanceiton^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 96| D

4/1

Got no further than the first fence in this race in 2018 after a pleasing C&D second to Dartford Warbler just a week earlier; no match for a progressive winner over hurdles at Perth recently; realistic contender.

Form: U313P-3

Apache Pilot^t,v²²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 86| CD

11/2

Veteran who thrives on racing at Hexham (is a four-time course winner, 2m4f-3m); survived a final fence blunder when winning over C&D (Class 4) on his penultimate start; saddle slipped latest; 3lb out of the handicap.

Form: 833-21U

Call Me³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L B Normile| OR: 82| D

16/1

PTP winner (May 2017); has struggled under rules for the Glenfarg-based trainer Lucy Normille; won't be winning here from 7lb out of the handicap.

Form: PP05-47

Forecasts

School Lane (3/1), Chanceiton (4/1), Classical Milano (9/2), Petite Ganache (5/1), Apache Pilot (11/2), Nortonthorpelegend (9/1), Call Me (16/1), Central Flame (20/1)

A blistering pace is guaranteed with the prominent racing trio of Classical Milano (race winner in 2018), School Lane (Ulster National second) and Nortonthorpelegend (on a recovery mission) likely to have a sustained tussle for the lead. Theoretically this should suit a strong finisher such as the frustrating Central Flame or alternatively the lowly-weighted course specialist APACHE PILOT. Despite being 3lb out of the handicap, the Maurice Barnes-trained veteran tends to thrive at this track during the busy spring/summer period and could just prove capable of notching a fifth course win.