14:10 Hexham

Friday 5 November 2021

All12:3013:0013:3514:1014:4015:1015:40

Esther Sidgwick Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 15.02s

Crossgalesfamegame²¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 120

14/1

Fairly useful hurdler who posted a respectable third in a mares handicap (20.2f) at Cheltenham in December. Ran poorly next 2 starts, though, and has since left Fergal O'Brien for £14,000. Chase bow.

Form: 63/6360-

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Fete Champetre^h,t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 118| D

7/2

Impressive bumper scorer who resumed winning ways over hurdles with a career best in 8-runner handicap at Kelso (16.2f) on return 33 days ago. Very much built for chasing.

Form: 16314-1

Mega Yeats²¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 118

3/1

Fairly useful hurdler for Ruth Jefferson in 2019. Has yet to recapture that level of form for current yard, but a switch to chasing could be a good move being a point winner earlier in her career.

Form: 177/233-

Hasankey^v⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Lewis Dobb⁽¹⁰⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 117| D

7/1

Fairly useful handicap hurdler and has matched that form over fences, though was already coming off second best when blundering 2 out at Sedgefield on latest start in August.

Form: 25-2542

Crack Du Ninian³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 114| D

3/1

Point winner who scored twice over hurdles last term and jumped soundly when making a successful chasing debut at Sedgefield (17f) recently. Open to improvement.

Form: 15102-1

Fulgurix¹⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D A Jacob| T: H Whittington| OR: 113

11/1

Runner-up on hurdling debut in France in 2019, but has been disappointing so far in Britain. Has left Colin Tizzard and switch to chasing needs to have a positive effect.

Form: 2/46-8

Aire Valley Lad¹⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 95| BF| CD

7/1

Fair hurdle winner who ran to a similar level when fourth of 7 on Sedgefield chase bow in May. Not seen to best effect when pulled up at Market Rasen next time but this is a stronger race.

Form: 617-84P

Non-Runners

Cooper's Cross¹

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: W Coltherd J: Sam Coltherd

Forecasts

Crack Du Ninian (3/1), Mega Yeats (3/1), Fete Champetre (7/2), Aire Valley Lad (7/1), Hasankey (7/1), Cooper's Cross (8/1), Fulgurix (11/1), Crossgalesfamegame (14/1)

FETE CHAMPETRE doubled his hurdles tally with an improved effort at Kelso on his reappearance and very much appeals as the type to climb the handicap ranks further now sent chasing, so he receives the vote. Crack du Ninian impressed on the jumping score when making a successful start in this sphere at Sedgefield last month and is open to further progress. Mega Yeats may prove best of the rest.