14:20 Hexham

Wednesday 11 December 2019

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

Purchase Your 2020 Hexham Membership Today Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:22 | Winning time: 7m 0.10s

Aengus^p¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Dowson| T: J Candlish| OR: 102

16/1

Without a win since February 2017, but has slipped right back to a workable mark; is 6lb lower than when a keeping on third to Boruma at Cartmel (2m6f, good to soft) in May; isn't without a chance.

Form: PP-33P6

Coniston Spa³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Alain Cawley| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 102

22/1

Former pointer (for Stephanie Easterby); finished 11¾L third to Kingrullah on rules debut in a Sedgefield maiden (2m1f, soft) in October; makes his handicap debut in a relatively weak race.

Form: 3-34

Pleney²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 102

7/2

Six-race maiden; placed on each of his last two starts, including when a weakening third (beaten just over 2L) to Court Baloo over C&D (soft) in October; has the distinct benefit of having Richard Johnson aboard.

Form: 994-P33

Strike West²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 99

11/1

Finished 20L third to Sheriff Garrett in this race 12 months ago (soft); runner up on a couple of occasions in the spring (2m3½f-3m3f), but never in the hunt in two starts so far this season; it's very difficult to exude confidence.

Form: 3822-P6

Wind Of Hope^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 87

9/1

Sole win under rules came way back in December 2017 (2m4f, Sedgefield); sits 2lb lower than when fourth of 14 to Casimir Du Clos (Espoir Moriviere second) over 2m4f here (heavy) three weeks ago.

Form: 8/65-544

Dorothy's Flame²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Ross Chapman| T: J C Haynes| OR: 77

50/1

Has yet to show any positive form whatsoever, and on the strength of things needs a minor miracle to reverse course placings with the likes of Espoir Moriviere, Wind Of Hope and Strike West et al.

Form: 95670-8

Espoir Moriviere²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 77| BF

2/1

Maiden (0-10); on the premises in each of his last three visits to Hexham, including when no match for Casimir Du Clos (runs earlier) over 2m4f (heavy) latest; is very closely matched with Cudgel.

Form: 7370-32

Cudgel³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: C O'Farrell| T: J Walton| OR: 77

3/1

Maiden (0-10); runner up on two of his three C&D starts, most latterly when finishing just in front of a weakening Espoir Moriviere (third) in November; ought to be there or thereabouts on that basis.

Form: 75-7242

Aniknam²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 75| C

16/1

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; only of any interest if the market speaks positively.

Form: 7FP7/0P

Broadway Belle^p1²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: B S Hughes| T: C Grant| OR: 66| CD

22/1

C&D winner from a 23lb higher mark in June 2018 (good); poor since and sits outside of the handicap proper as a result; sports first-time cheekpieces, with Brian Hughes a noteworthy jockey booking.

Form: 548-955

Non-Runners

Dolly's Dot³³⁴

Weight: 10-0| Age: 8

T: V Thompson J: Philip Armson

Forecasts

Espoir Moriviere (2/1), Cudgel (3/1), Pleney (7/2), Wind Of Hope (9/1), Strike West (11/1), Aniknam (16/1), Aengus (16/1), Broadway Belle (22/1), Coniston Spa (22/1), Dolly's Dot (33/1), Dorothy's Flame (50/1)

A low-grade contest which could quite feasibly spring a shock result. However, despite both being ten-race maidens Cudgel and ESPOIR MORIVIERE just about set the standard on the basis of previous C&D form. The selection has made the frame (332) on each of his last three visits to Hexham, including when a well-backed second to Casimir Du Clos (runs earlier) three weeks ago. If merely replicating that kind of performance, he'll surely have the measure of Wind Of Hope (fourth), Strike West (sixth), Dorothy's Flame (eighth) and Aniknam (pulled up).