19:25 Hexham

Saturday 1 May 2021

All17:2017:5018:2518:5519:2519:5520:25

Happy Birthday John Lumley Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:38 | Winning time: 4m 12.00s

Fanzio^t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: R Hobson| OR: 130| D

3/1

Useful chaser who benefited from the assistance of this rider when scoring at Perth 9 days ago. Lower in the weights over these smaller obstacles, so obvious claims if he can reproduce that form.

Form: F46741-

Golden Town¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlotte Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 125| D

16/1

Returned to form back from a break when runner-up at Perth 10 days ago, boosting an already solid record at that track. He doesn't appear to have anything in hand, though.

Form: 126702-

Nordic Combined^v¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 121| D

10/3

Fairly useful hurdler who has run well to finish second the last twice, albeit typically looking none too keen at Cheltenham on latest. Respected despite temperament reservations.

Form: F75522-

Kaizer¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Craig Nichol| T: A C Whillans| OR: 117| D

7/1

Fairly useful hurdler who went close to adding to the tally at Musselburgh (26f) in February but hasn't fired since. Others preferred.

Form: 532784-

Fisher Green^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Ross Chapman| T: M A Barnes| OR: 116| D

10/1

Right back on song when readily making all in 2m handicap at Wetherby in March but hasn't backed it up as yet, acknowledging his latest effort at Kelso was respectable.

Form: F53105-

Blue Hawaii⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: T Collier| OR: 106| D

9/2

Bumper winner who built on hurdling debut when landing a 10-runner novice at Catterick last time. This stiffer track should suit, so she's a big player now handicapping.

Form: 77/141-

Aire Valley Lad¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Sam Coltherd| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 105| CD

14/1

Promising individual who got off the mark in 12-runner novice hurdle over C&D in September. Perhaps needed run here on recent handicap debut, so may get back on the up.

Form: 1/7617-

Frightened Rabbit¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 103| CD

6/1

Four-time hurdle winner during 2019 who confirmed return to form when 3.5 lengths second of 9 over C&D on penultimate outing. Did too much too soon next time.

Form: 7/0P226-

Non-Runners

Laskadine³²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: B Haslam J: R P McLernon

Forecasts

Fanzio (3/1), Nordic Combined (10/3), Blue Hawaii (9/2), Frightened Rabbit (6/1), Kaizer (7/1), Fisher Green (10/1), Laskadine (10/1), Aire Valley Lad (14/1), Golden Town (16/1)

BLUE HAWAII was well on top at the finish when landing a Catterick novice hurdle last time and, while the form isn't proving all that strong, she's open to further progress now switched to handicaps, so she's preferred to recent Perth chase winner Fanzio. Nordic Combined arrives in good order and can't be totally dismissed.