14:45 Hexham

Friday 8 November 2019

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:1515:50

Weatherbys Racing Bank Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 6m 28.60s

The Horsechesnut^p,t²³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 101| C

22/1

Veteran; returned to the care of Jennie Candlish to win back-to-back races in March, including when beating Arizona Bound by 3L here (over fences - 3m, heavy); 7lb higher for seasonal reappearance.

Form: PP/2611-

Pistol^t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr John Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: J E Dixon| OR: 97

14/1

Quirky and generally reserves his very best for Carlisle, particularly effective when the mud is flying in all directions; outpaced when third to the well-supported Metro Boulet Dodo (2m4f) at Carlisle a fortnight ago.

Form: 4424-43

No Trumps⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 97

11/8

An exceptionally rare runner at Hexham for HM The Queen; made all (kept on willingly for pressure) when striking at the third attempt over hurdles last week (Wetherby 2m5½f, soft); unpenalised (is due an 8lb rise); a major player.

Form: 85446-1

Triopas²¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 95| D

3/1

Things didn't go to plan over fences and truthfully he's struggled overall since a most productive spell in late 2017 (four wins); handicapped to have a say (on ground which he handles) if fully rejuvenated for the summer break.

Form: P46FP8-

Dontdelay²¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 91| BF| CD

9/1

Won twice over C&D last season on heavy ground; 3lb higher than when justifying favouritism (11-10f) under this rider here in March; must be given plenty of respect on seasonal reappearance; market a helpful guide.

Form: 0/14216-

Cryogenics^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 88

66/1

14-race maiden; any distant glimmers of ability appear to have evaporated; finished behind Pistol latest (was never involved); is difficult to fancy despite a plunging handicap mark - down 22lb since August.

Form: P94096

Mcginty's Dream²³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 88| C

25/1

Better known as a chaser; mildly progressive last season winning twice over 3m under very testing conditions (here and at Ayr); fell in the race won by The Horsechesnut here in March; is rated 10lb lower over hurdles than fences.

Form: 70211F-

Espoir Moriviere²⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 74

13/2

Eight-race maiden; displayed a whiff of ability when third to Kalaharry over C&D last December; subsequent efforts were excusable (stable had a virus); 5lb lower on first start in Rose Dobbin's own silks (ex Straightline Bloodstock).

Form: 607370-

Cudgel¹⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: C O'Farrell| T: J Walton| OR: 74

10/1

Nine-race maiden; was beaten by a stablemate of Dontdelay (It's All About Me) on his most recent hurdles outing (over C&D in June); comfortably out of his depth over fences on sole subsequent start; first run for 146 days.

Form: 575-724

Broadway Belle¹⁸¹

20/1

Rated 16lb higher when winning over C&D in June 2018 - beat the Micky Hammond trained Christmas Twenty by a head; entirely downhill since, albeit does reappear from wind surgery; is difficult to enthuse over.

Form: 76548-9

Forecasts

No Trumps (11/8), Triopas (3/1), Espoir Moriviere (13/2), Dontdelay (9/1), Cudgel (10/1), Pistol (14/1), Broadway Belle (20/1), The Horsechesnut (22/1), Mcginty's Dream (25/1), Cryogenics (66/1)

Stamina reserves are the thorny issue for the recent Wetherby scorer NO TRUMPS, but as a lightly raced mare she's given the benefit of the doubt until more pertinent evidence becomes available. She proved her well-being on testing ground at Wetherby last week and assuming that she does stay, her chance is an obvious one racing from an identical handicap mark (due a future 8lb rise). For those seeking a better priced each-way alternative, the competitively handicapped Triopas offers an avenue which is potentially worth exploring.