16:05 Hexham

Friday 2 October 2020

All13:1513:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:40

Hexham Racecourse Holiday Home Park Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 6m 46.15s

Speak Of The Devil²¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-3| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 107| BF| D

5/1

Winning pointer who left hurdles form behind when runner-up 3 times over fences last season. Returns with his yard among the winners. Needs considering.

Form: 32U224-

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Aptly Put^p,t⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Callum Bewley| T: James Moffatt| OR: 102

11/1

Plenty of good runs over hurdles but failed to strike. Showed a bit on belated chase debut at Cartmel (25.5f) in August but needs more now in this refitted headgear combination.

Form: 3209-45

Mamoo^p⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 100

5/1

Pair of Catterick handicap hurdle wins last winter. Off 5 months, given a considerate introduction to chasing at Cartmel 8 weeks ago and could leave that well behind now. Usual cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 31217-7

Peter's Portrait²³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 100| D

7/2

Placed twice off higher marks in handicap hurdles around 3m last term. Brian Hughes has a good record for in-form stable. Point winner so reasonable to think he'll take to chasing.

Form: 4/3352P-

Little Millie⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: D B Hurst⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 95| D

28/1

Winner of a pair of handicaps off higher marks for Neil King in spring 2019 but yet to show any spark for this yard. Remains to be seen if this switch to fences improves matters.

Form: 446-8PP

Grumpy Boots⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: A C Whillans| OR: 90

17/2

Little solid form, beaten a good way in a pair of Perth handicap chases in recent months. Others preferred once again.

Form: 8673-46

Glamorous Nellie²⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 87

33/1

Modest hurdler for Liz Doyle in Ireland. Pulled up in handicap hurdle here last October (sole run for Hugh Burns). Third on completed start in points since. Best watched unless market vibes strong.

Form: P0PPP3-

The Cattlejobber^p,t1³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 87| D

25/1

Modest maiden hurdler who was tailed off on Cartmel chase debut/reappearance in August and fared little better back hurdling at Bangor since. Has a tongue strap on first time.

Form: 1/536-05

Flaming Glory²⁰⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Sean Quinlan| T: K Scott| OR: 82

20/1

Maiden who hit the frame a few times in handicap hurdles last winter but didn't always find much come the crunch. Switches to fences after 6 months off.

Form: 4P3463-

Costly Dream^t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: D R Fox| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 82| CD

13/2

Improved when springing 40/1 surprise in C&D handicap last month but not in anything like the same form when distant third at Perth since. Return to this venue needs to help.

Form: 4-65513

Farlam King^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 77

22/1

Poor maiden hurdler, although he probably needed the run on course reappearance 17 days ago, fading after 2 out. Chase debut.

Form: 662P9-9

Phantom Isle^t1²⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 76

9/1

Looked pretty limited in bumpers/hurdles for Chris Grant. Belated comeback for new yard at Sedgefield in February wasn't all doom and gloom, however. Switches to fences on return with tongue tie on.

Form: 74659/6-

Commanding Spirit^p,t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 74| D

18/1

Offered little over hurdles for Jonjo O'Neill earlier in career and no form over fences/hurdles for new yard either. Hard to fancy.

Form: 5/7FPP-7

Hot Gossip²⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 74

25/1

Maiden hurdler who failed to put her best foot forward in 3 starts last season. Now tackles fences for the first time after 10 months off.

Form: 652/640-

Forecasts

Peter's Portrait (7/2), Speak Of The Devil (5/1), Mamoo (5/1), Costly Dream (13/2), Grumpy Boots (17/2), Phantom Isle (9/1), Aptly Put (11/1), Commanding Spirit (18/1), Flaming Glory (20/1), Farlam King (22/1), Hot Gossip (25/1), The Cattlejobber (25/1), Little Millie (28/1), Glamorous Nellie (33/1)

Brian Hughes does well when teaming up with Charlie Longsdon so PETER'S PORTRAIT could be the way to go here. He was placed off higher marks over hurdles last term and a point win at the start of his career suggests he could fare even better over fences. Mamoo caught the eye on his chase bow and is a possible threat, particularly if the betting speaks for him. Speak of The Devil is also respected.