15:30 Hexham

Wednesday 20 November 2019

All12:5013:2514:0014:3015:0015:30

Christmas Packages Available On 11th December Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 5m 37.45s

Strike West²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 101

22/1

Lost touch from the fifth flight (pulled up) on seasonal reappearance at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft); remains a few pounds too high in the handicap; trainer saddles three runners, including Excalibur.

Form: 1/3822-P

McCrackens Gate³⁷⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J Kington| T: Justin Landy| OR: 97

8/1

12-race maiden; last seen in competitive action in a Fairyhouse Beginners' Chase (2m5f, good) 379-days ago; reverts to hurdling for his new trainer.

Form: 007056-

Wherewouldugetit⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: Sara Ender| OR: 91

20/1

Sold cheaply in July (having fetched £90,000 last November); well beaten on both starts for Sara Ender; very difficult to fancy despite stepping up noticeably in trip.

Form: 10-6057

Flaming Glory²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: K Scott| OR: 91

20/1

Five-race hurdles maiden; showed a fraction more promise when a weakening fourth (raced keenly) to Tekiblue De L'Orme at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) latest; others preferred.

Form: 2068-94

Dark And Dangerous^b¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁵⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 90

20/1

No win since completing a hat-trick at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) in March 2017; has slipped back down the weights as a result; raced prominently until weakening up the hill when fourth to Wor Verge here (2m, heavy) 12 days ago.

Form: 9/6852-4

Wind Of Hope^p¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 89| D

12/1

Sole win (in 17 starts) came over this trip at Sedgefield (soft) on Boxing Day 2017 - now rated 6lb lower; plugged on for a remote fourth (beaten 20L) to Excalibur at Sedgefield a fortnight ago; unlikely.

Form: 48/65-54

Ex S'elance^p¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 89

33/1

Largely poor since joining Micky Hammond (saddles three runners), although did land a gamble when winning by 3½L at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in April; difficult to fathom a positive argument in his favour.

Form: 601-000

Calliope^h,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 89

16/1

Yet to win over hurdles (0-9) but has shown herself to have the necessary attributes on the Flat (twice a winner at 1m4f); heavy ground is an obvious concern for this front-running mare; others are more convincing.

Form: 45-0355

Casimir Du Clos¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 86| C

6/1

Struck over fences here (1m7½f, soft) on his penultimate start; was unable to exploit a favourable hurdles mark when second to Wor Verge (2m, heavy) subsequently; fair chance off 5lb higher if hurdling more proficiently (and staying 2m4f).

Form: P145-12

Excalibur^p¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 84| D

6/1

Stablemate of Strike West and Ex S'elance; travelled smoothly into contention and was ridden clear on the run-in when beating Starplex by 6L in a 2m4f conditional jockeys' handicap at Sedgefield (soft) a fortnight ago.

Form: 060P-31

Dorothy's Flame²²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Thomas Dowson| T: J C Haynes| OR: 80

80/1

Well beaten on all seven previous starts (at massive odds); isn't in the slightest bit recommendable; look elsewhere confidently.

Form: 095670-

Ruler Of The Nile¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 80

100/1

Won just once in a 42-race career and that was over 2m on Fibresand at Southwell in February 2016 (for Robert Stephens); has absolutely masses to find with Excalibur on Sedgefield form.

Form: 6P939/0

Aniknam³³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 78| C

9/1

Reasonably useful as a novice way back in 2014 (twice a course winner, 2m) but hasn't seen too much racing in recent years, and is evidently in decline; behind from the fifth flight on recent Uttoxeter comeback (2m, soft); 5lb lower.

Form: 67FP7/0

Espoir Moriviere¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 76

13/8

Nine-race maiden; the suspicion is that he's handily-weighted owing mainly to his trainers well-publicised struggles (virus) last season; ran well when a close third to No Trumps here (2m7½f, heavy) 12 days ago; a major player in a weak race.

Form: 07370-3

Non-Runners

Innis Shannon⁶⁰¹

Weight: 10-13| Age: 9

T: G Bewley J: Jonathon Bewley

Forecasts

Espoir Moriviere (13/8), Casimir Du Clos (6/1), Excalibur (6/1), McCrackens Gate (8/1), Aniknam (9/1), Wind Of Hope (12/1), Calliope (16/1), Dark And Dangerous (20/1), Flaming Glory (20/1), Wherewouldugetit (20/1), Strike West (22/1), Innis Shannon (25/1), Ex S'elance (33/1), Dorothy's Flame (80/1), Ruler Of The Nile (100/1)

Plenty of deadwood, so the trio to concentrate upon are Casimir Du Clos, Excalibur and ESPOIR MORIVIERE. The former wasn't the most fluent over his hurdles when finishing second here (2m) recently, and the combination of a 5lb weights rise and an extra half-mile could mean that he has to settle for a place. The Middleham handler Micky Hammond saddles three runners, with the Sedgefield scorer Excalibur by far the most appealing under the 7lb claimer Emma Smith-Chaston. However, the suspicion is that the Rose Dobbin-trained runner is more attractively handicapped (from a mark of 76) with added confidence gained from a pleasing comeback run here (2m7½f) 12 days ago.