12:20 Hexham

Wednesday 11 December 2019

All12:2012:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:20

Welcome To Our Christmas Race Day Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:20 | Winning time: 5m 43.10s

Champagne Chaser^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: R Johnson| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 112| CD

11/4

C&D winner (Sept 2017); gamely fended off an odds-on favourite when scoring under Richard Johnson at Cartmel (2m6f, soft) in July; just in front when unseating Charlie Price at the last at Chepstow (2m3½f, soft) three weeks ago; 3lb higher.

Form: 8-8217U

Celtic Flames⁴⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 110| C| D

14/1

Absent for 14 months since getting off the mark over hurdles at Perth (2m4f, good) in September 2018 - came from well off the pace to collar Jaunty Thor by a neck; 6lb higher, but has won here over fences.

Form: F14/541-

Sweet Vinetta²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Miss E Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 110| CD

7/2

Kept on for pressure from the final flight (in a barging match with Somethingaboutangela) to take a Class 4 mares' handicap over C&D (soft) on her penultimate start; beaten (weakened quickly) from a similar mark to today's at Ayr subsequently.

Form: 4476-17

Haul Us In^p⁶⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 109| C

14/1

Won three on the bounce (2m5f-2m7½f) during the early months of 2018, rising in excess of a stone in the weights; similarly to her stablemate Celtic Flames she's returning from a lengthy absence here (600 days).

Form: 221110/

Baby Ticker²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 107

10/3

At her best when the conditions are testing, and was a winner off today's mark at Ayr (2m, heavy) in January 2018; should strip fitter for her respectable comeback fourth to Jessiemac at Ayr (2m4½f, heavy) four weeks ago.

Form: 258/52-4

Un Guet Apens^p⁶⁰⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 107| DWS

14/1

Off the track since April 2018, when left a distant second to Pain Au Chocolat (in truly desperate conditions) over fences at Newcastle (2m4f, heavy); has had wind surgery since and switches to hurdles from an easing mark.

Form: 412562/

Muroor^v²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 103

33/1

Beat I'm An Izz Wizz by a head when winning over fences at Downpatrick (2m3f, good) in August; disappointing since joining the Embleton-based handler Victor Thompson (0-2); can a switch to the smaller obstacles revive?

Form: 362545

Near Kettering^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 102

12/1

Landed a gamble when scoring on the Flat at Thirsk (1m4f, soft) in August, swiftly following up over hurdles at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) a couple of weeks later; very disappointing of late, including over this trip at Uttoxeter 17 days ago.

Form: 4-P1088

Mahler Supreme²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 101

6/1

Nine-race maiden, albeit without masses of experience of handicapping; 2lb lower than when finishing a distant third (beaten 21L) to the subsequent Sedgefield chase winner Calivigny over hurdles at Ayr (2m3½f, heavy) four weeks ago.

Form: 354-P53

Forecasts

Champagne Chaser (11/4), Baby Ticker (10/3), Sweet Vinetta (7/2), Mahler Supreme (6/1), Near Kettering (12/1), Haul Us In (14/1), Celtic Flames (14/1), Un Guet Apens (14/1), Muroor (33/1)

Champagne Chaser has the benefit of race-fitness under the Champion Jockey Richard Johnson and is preferred to those returning from lengthy absences, namely the Lucinda Russell duo Celtic Flames and Haul Us In, in addition to the veteran chaser Un Guet Apens. However, he does carry plenty of weight having inched up the handicap another 3lb since his final flight mishap at Chepstow. Therefore, we'll elect to take a chance on the heavy ground specialist BABY TICKER who receives 9lb from the likely favourite and acquitted herself reasonably well on return from an 11-month absence at Ayr (2m4½f, heavy) four weeks ago.