18:35 Hexham

Tuesday 18 May 2021

All17:0517:3518:0518:3519:0519:3520:05

NE-Bet Sportsbook And Casino Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 18:35 | Winning time: 6m 46.3s

Gun Merchant^p¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 103

9/1

Fair sort over hurdles for Gordon Elliott in Ireland. By no means disgraced when third at Kelso (23.4f, good) back from a break 13 days ago and each-way chance off 2 lb lower here.

Form: 33754-3

Real Armani^t¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 92| CD

5/2

Appears to have upped his game a touch since undergoing wind surgery, game winner of back-to-back C&D handicaps in March. Too free when fourth here 17 days ago and claims if setting better this time.

Form: 27112-4

Hidden Cargo¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Thomas Dowson| T: J C Haynes| OR: 88| D

33/1

Remains winless following 21 starts under Rules and pulled up on 3 of his last 4 outings.

Form: 42PP7-P

Gameface^p³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 83

5/1

Has benefited greatly from stepping up to 27f over hurdles at Sedgefield the last twice, latterly opening his account off 3 lb lower. Definite chance if transferring that improvement back to fences.

Form: P7/FP31-

Flaming Glory^p⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: S Mulqueen| T: K Scott| OR: 82WS

11/1

Good second in a 14-runner C&D handicap chase in December. However, latest effort at Carlisle was very poor and hopes pinned on subsequent wind op working the oracle.

Form: 3/3827P-

Emissaire^t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 81

12/1

Bumper winner, but 0-11 over hurdles and has failed to complete on 3 of his 4 previous starts in this sphere.

Form: 935/527-

Big Stuart³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Miss L C Siddall| OR: 81

50/1

Lightly-raced 8-y-o who has made no impact in bumpers/3 runs over hurdles. Exponential improvement needed now upped in trip for this chase debut.

Form: 56/564-

Lawtop Legend^b⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 76| C

13/8

Runner-up on debut for this yard in Fontwell handicap hurdle before going one better in first-time blinkers at Plumpton (25f, good) recently. Big player if reproducing that form back over fences.

Form: 89/462-1

Non-Runners

Shattered Glass²⁵

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: M Scudamore J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Lawtop Legend (13/8), Real Armani (5/2), Shattered Glass (3/1), Gameface (5/1), Gun Merchant (9/1), Flaming Glory (11/1), Emissaire (12/1), Hidden Cargo (33/1), Big Stuart (50/1)

SHATTERED GLASS put in a good round of jumping when opening his account at Chepstow and a 9 lb rise may not be enough to prevent him from going in again. Lawtop Legend is well treated back in this sphere judged on recent hurdles exploits, but quite what he will make of the return to fences remains to be seen (well held 3 previous chase starts). A similar remark applies to Gameface.