Hexham Racecourse Membership An Ideal Xmas Present Novices' Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 7m 31.42s

Mighty Thunder^t,v²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 130| C| D

6/5

Fairly useful hurdler who matched that form when making a winning chasing debut at this course just over 3 weeks ago. That race completely fell apart around him, but he looks the one to beat here.

Form: 8142-91

Grand Morning^t,v²⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 120

9/4

Three-time hurdle winner back in 2018 but little show in 3 runs over fences in 2018/19. Mixed bag over hurdles since and hard to know what form he will be in back over fences after a 9-month break.

Form: 1PP4/29-

Perfect Man^p,t²⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 134| D

4/1

Improved model last term, making it 2 wins from 3 starts at Kelso (25.7f) in January. Wasn't in same form on final 2019/20 start at Warwick but he's respected on chasing bow after 8 months off.

Form: 43/1516-

France De Reve⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 119| BF

9/1

French bumper winner who left previous hurdling efforts behind when scoring at Newton Abbot on handicap debut. Made little impact at Warwick/Ludlow in recent months and now goes chasing on yard debut.

Form: 725-138

Leverock Lass²⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁵⁾| T: T Reed| OR: 86| D

28/1

Landed a mares' novice hurdle at Ayr in January 2019 and showed a bit on chase bow at Leicester in February (lot to do). Pulled up (shaped as if amiss) when last seen 9 months ago so best watched.

Form: 05/473P-

Non-Runners

Skiddaw Tara²⁵⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: N G Richards J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Mighty Thunder (6/5), Grand Morning (9/4), Perfect Man (4/1), Skiddaw Tara (11/2), France De Reve (9/1), Leverock Lass (28/1)

MIGHTY THUNDER was left with next to nothing to beat in the end when making a winning chasing debut here just over 3 weeks ago, with the market principals failing to fire in one way or another. He's taken to double his tally with the promise of better to come. Perfect Man narrowly gets the nod for the forecast spot on his chasing bow, ahead of the selection's stablemate Grand Morning.