19:55 Hexham

Saturday 1 May 2021

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

Visit attheraces.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 20:10 | Winning time: 5m 27.2s

Charmix^p⁹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 97

25/1

On a long losing run and he didn't look like bucking the trend last season, labouring some way out and pulled up at Musselburgh (20.3f) in January. Break needs to have perked him up.

Form: 5/FP66P-

Claret Dabbler³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Ryan Mania| T: Mrs H O Graham| OR: 95

11/1

Fair form in bumpers and minor promise in a couple of hurdle starts following a lengthy absence in recent months. Interesting what the market makes of him now chasing.

Form: 3358/34-

Trumps Benefit^p,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Callum Bewley| T: R Potter| OR: 95| D

12/1

Chase winner who ran respectably on the back of 5 months off when third over hurdles at Newcastle (3m) for new yard last month. That should have set him up nicely for the return to chasing.

Form: 236F73-

Mill Race King¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 92

11/4

Winning pointer who, away from the mud, ran his best race to date over fences when staying on for third over extended 15f here recently. Remains low-mileage so worth considering.

Form: 2/5FP53-

Real Armani^t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 92| BF| C

3/1

Appears to have upped his game a touch since undergoing wind surgery, game winner of back-to-back 3m handicaps prior to a finding only one too good. Mark has crept up but claims in this form.

Form: 527112-

Epsom Des Mottes⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 91

20/1

Easy all-the-way winner on his chase debut in 23f Newcastle novice handicap in November but well held all 3 completed starts since.

Form: U164U6-

Casimir Du Clos^p³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 90| CD

10/1

Three of his 4 victories have been registered here, including a 15.6f handicap chase (heavy) in December. Not disgraced on return over C&D in March and he's no forlorn hope.

Form: 2/07313-

Holme Abbey²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 89

11/1

Fairly low-mileage 8-y-o who has the size for chasing and showed aptitude for the job when midfield in a Carlisle novices' handicap (20.9f) last month. Task now is to build on that.

Form: 79/2057-

Scottsdale²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: J Kington| T: P Winks| OR: 83

66/1

Modest 2m hurdle winner who never threatened in trio of hurdle starts last term and he's likely best watched now tackling larger obstacles.

Form: 1P7/0P0-

Black Kettle^p,t⁴⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 78

40/1

Hasn't won for a while and he failed to build on the modicum of promise showed at Wetherby (15f) in February when pulled up in a C&D handicap in March. Others make greater appeal.

Form: 326/P4P-

Iskabeg Lane^p1²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: R P McLernon| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 76

18/1

Well below par on each of his 6 starts since returning from a lengthy absence last season, losing place some way out at Newcastle (20f) 3 weeks ago. Handicapper continues to relent.

Form: 53PP74-

Go To Court⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: B S Hughes| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 75| BF

7/1

Has fallen a long way in the weights without looking like taking advantage, merely closing up late when 8.5 lengths fifth of 10 at Wetherby (15f) recently. Return to further a plus at least.

Form: 6555P5-

Challow^p,t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 74

22/1

Long-standing maiden who hasn't offered much in handful of quick runs over fences this spring. Likely to find a few too good again.

Form: 6/P3955-

Non-Runners

Teme Spirit¹²

Weight: 10-6| Age: 7

T: M Todhunter J: Sean Quinlan

Forecasts

Mill Race King (11/4), Real Armani (3/1), Go To Court (7/1), Casimir Du Clos (10/1), Claret Dabbler (11/1), Holme Abbey (11/1), Trumps Benefit (12/1), Iskabeg Lane (18/1), Epsom Des Mottes (20/1), Challow (22/1), Charmix (25/1), Teme Spirit (33/1), Black Kettle (40/1), Scottsdale (66/1)

A number arrive with claims including TRUMPS BENEFIT, who produced a perfectly adequate comeback from 5 months off when third over hurdles at Newcastle in April. He looked set to score from a higher mark over fences last year and the return to this sort of trip will hold no fears. Mill Race King ran well away from heavy ground last time and is feared, along with Casimir du Clos and Real Armani.