16:15 Hexham

Saturday 12 October 2019

All13:2513:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:50

Campbell & Rowley Event Bars Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:16 | Winning time: 4m 13.10s

John Williams^p¹⁵¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-5| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 102| CD

9/1

Short-head winner of this race in 2017 (beat Oak Vintage), and a one-paced third to Take A Break when defending his crown last year; sits on his last winning mark on return from a five-month absence (that doesn't concern); fair chance.

Form: 12155-U

Roxyfet¹⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 95| CD

12/1

Inconsistent, yet is perfectly capable when the mood takes his fancy (most effective at Sedgefield); 4lb higher than when beating stablemate Black Kettle by 2¼L over C&D (good) in May; off since (144 days).

Form: 21463-1

Roll Of Thunder⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: C O'Farrell| T: J Walton| OR: 91| CD

5/2

Scampered clear (the beneficiary of a patient ride from Conor O'Farrell) to score by 10L over C&D (good) six weeks ago; hit with a sizeable rise in the weights since (8lb); the continued drying of the ground will surely aid his chances.

Form: 313331

Bocasien Desbois^p⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Cook| T: M Todhunter| OR: 90| C

9/4

Won for the second time over fences (well backed) here last week (2m4f); a 3lb weights rise looks fair - may have been collared by Ripstick (significant final fence error); holds a few of these rivals and enters the reckoning accordingly.

Form: 54-4P81

Jolie Crickette^b,t⁵¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 90| D

20/1

French import; for one reason or another we've not seen the best of her since taking a mares' novices' hurdle at Kelso (2m, good to soft) in December 2016; conditions fine, and 3-13 over fences in France; fitness a doubt (first run for 514 days).

Form: P1695/8-

Benarty Hill^p1⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 86

13/2

Left toiling throughout by stablemate King Golan over fences at Market Rasen (3m, good) in August; sports first-time cheekpieces, but has much work to do in order to reverse 2m4f course form with Bocasien Desbois.

Form: 905-554

Casimir Du Clos¹⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 80| D

5/1

Off the mark at the first time of asking over fences at Sedgefield (2m+, good to soft) in March; however, that form was only modest and he's twice disappointed since; not impossible but unlikely on seasonal reappearance.

Form: 57P145-

Brother Scott⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: B Butterworth| OR: 74| C

25/1

Veteran (4-64 career); difficult to fancy with 2019 form figures reading 987U9P; weakened from the third last (pulled up) in the 2m4f race won by Bocasien Desbois here last week.

Form: 987U9P

Forecasts

Bocasien Desbois (9/4), Roll Of Thunder (5/2), Casimir Du Clos (5/1), Benarty Hill (13/2), John Williams (9/1), Roxyfet (12/1), Jolie Crickette (20/1), Brother Scott (25/1)

Both John Williams (2017 race winner) and Roll Of Thunder know their respective ways around Hexham blindfolded, with the latter expected to be suited by the continuing drying of the ground during the second half of this week (has been very windy). However, BOCASIEN DESBOIS was very well supported when winning over 2m4f here eight days ago, and although undoubtedly aided by a final fence blunder from Ripstick, he should once more have the measure of Benarty Hill and Brother Scott. His trainer Martin Todhunter will no doubt be particularly satisfied with a token 3lb weights rise.