12:50 Hexham

Wednesday 11 December 2019

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

Support The Injured Jockeys Fund Today Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 7m 22.6s

Smuggler's Stash^v³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 100| CD

15/2

Mudlark and winner of this race in 2016; returned to action from a 571-day absence over C&D last month when finishing a tired 28L third to Square Viviani (Arizona Bound second); trainer Rose Dobbin saddled the Borders National winner last weekend.

Form: 21143/3

Mcginty's Dream³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 98| CD

14/1

Twice a winner over fences, including over C&D (heavy) last December when beating the gallant teenager See Double You by 9L; made his seasonal reappearance over hurdles (pulled up) and sits on a difficult looking handicap mark over fences.

Form: 0211F-8

Square Viviani³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 98| CD

4/1

Bounced right back to form when thrashing Arizona Bound by 18L (Smuggler's Stash third) over C&D (heavy) last month; a subsequent 7lb rise is arguably lenient, so he should take plenty of beating if able to reproduce such form.

Form: 3PFP-51

Lowanbehold²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 96| BF| CD

9/2

Dour stayer with ample Hexham experience; turned in a rock-solid effort in defeat when trying to win November's 4m chase here for the second successive year - beaten 2¼L by the Micky Hammond-trained Dontdelay; merits considerable respect.

Form: 33-4432

Asking For Answers^v²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Cook| T: M Todhunter| OR: 88

6/1

Nine-race maiden who hasn't always been the most proficient of fencers; weakened from the third last when visored for the first time at Newcastle (2m7f, heavy) 26 days ago; others more obvious.

Form: 85U-5U5

Pc Dixon²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 85| C

16/1

Exposed as moderate overall (1-34); was broadly in contention when falling two out at Sedgefield (3m2f, soft) on his penultimate start, albeit his other five previous efforts over fences are nothing special; look elsewhere.

Form: 3P5-5F6

Misdflight^p,t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 84WS

14/1

Maiden over fences (0-17) who clearly doesn't aid his cause by racing freely in the early stages of the race; 5lb lower than when finishing 8L third to Classical Milano over C&D (soft) in October; has had recent wind surgery.

Form: 33P335

Multipede⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 80

7/1

Didn't disgrace himself on chasing debut at Kelso (2m7f, soft) in October when a weakening 10¾L fourth to Oscar Ceremony; that was all the more credible when you consider it was his first competitive start since April 2017; isn't dismissed.

Form: 08463/4

Arizona Bound²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 78| D

9/1

Difficult to win with (1-16 over fences); seemingly didn't stay the marathon 4m trip here (heavy) last month; has 18L and more to make up on his previous C&D conqueror Square Viviani (Smuggler's Stash third).

Form: 0-58525

Westend Theatre²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 73

6/1

18-race maiden (0-10 over fences); 3lb lower than when finishing 17¼L third to Gatacre Street (Asking For Answers fifth) over 2m7f at Newcastle (heavy) 27 days ago; is considered an unlikely winner.

Form: 43/050-3

Forecasts

Square Viviani (4/1), Lowanbehold (9/2), Westend Theatre (6/1), Asking For Answers (6/1), Multipede (7/1), Smuggler's Stash (15/2), Arizona Bound (9/1), Mcginty's Dream (14/1), Misdflight (14/1), Pc Dixon (16/1)

Consistency mightn't necessarily be a core strength for SQUARE VIVIANI, but he represents the in-form stable of Micky Hammond seeking to confirm November's C&D form with Arizona Bound and Smuggler's Stash. While Rose Dobbin's nine-year-old should benefit immeasurably for that comeback run, it's difficult to envisage him reversing those placings on marginally better terms. Therefore, the likeliest danger is the admirable veteran Lowanbehold who went down on his sword to a stablemate of the selection (Dontdelay) in the stamina-sapping four-miler here last month.