15:20 Hexham

Wednesday 8 December 2021

All12:2012:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:20

Happy Birthday Kian Burley Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 6m 34.47s

Rivabodiva^t⁶⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: P W Wadge⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 96| CD

20/1

Veteran mare who was below her best despite her sliding mark earlier this year. However, probably best not judged too harshly on her C&D return in October when pulled up. May well strip fitter.

Form: 6884-6P

Skipness²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 91

40/1

Still relatively early days but he's yet to make an impact in 4 handicaps, struggling 2 out when eighth of 9 over 20f here last month. Goes back up in trip now.

Form: 5656-88

Flames Of Passion^p1³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 88

12/1

Runner-up sole start between the flags and showed flashes of promise in maiden/novice company. However, well held on handicap debut back from a break at Exeter and now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 2/6669

Late Date^p⁷⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 83

25/1

Confirmed some ability remains when runner-up over 3m at Perth in August but failed to build on that back there the following month. Back from another short break now.

Form: PP-P527

Askgarmor¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Reed| T: T Davidson| OR: 82

11/2

Point winner back in 2016 who has been very lightly raced under Rules but does arrive here having run his best race when second over 3m at Ayr last month, doing best of those held up. Not discounted.

Form: 4587/P-2

Storm Force One^p³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Callum Bewley| T: P D Niven| OR: 79

14/1

Improved in cheekpieces when fourth at Sedgefield (21f) 13 months ago but not built on that since, well held ninth of 14 on return at that venue last month. Others more persuasive.

Form: 84067-9

Great Raffles³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 78

14/1

Lightly-raced hurdler who has struggled on each of his 6 starts on these shores, never a threat on back of 6 months off over C&D 33 days ago.

Form: 395P-58

Atomic Angel³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: S Corbett| OR: 78

5/1

Barely modest form to date and below best when well held fifth in a C&D handicap 33 days ago, folding home turn. Needs to leave that effort in her wake to feature.

Form: 63-3535

Stitch Up^p1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 76

11/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler who didn't offer a great deal last season. Should come on for last month's Wetherby return though and her mark has eased further. Arrives with yard in good form.

Form: 74488-9

Espoir Moriviere³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 76

4/1

Dual hurdles winner at around 3m who has fallen below last winning mark and took a step back in the right direction when third over C&D last month. Return to heavy ground a plus and worth a look.

Form: 2557-03

Fame And Hope²⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 76

11/2

Good second from 9 lb higher mark at Catterick in January but has shown little since, including over C&D when last seen in May. Break needs to have perked her up.

Form: 2P89-00

Yorgunnabeamunky^p³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: R Ross| OR: 72

7/1

Well held in bumper/trio of novice hurdles but did offer a glimmer of promise when fourth on return/handicap debut over C&D recently. Not out of the question she can build on that.

Form: 6860-4

Dorothy's Flame³⁹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Thomas Dowson| T: J C Haynes| OR: 69

100/1

Long-standing maiden who was well held both starts last season and looks set for another struggle on return to action now.

Form: P560/P5-

Filou D'Anjou⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: J Kington| T: S G West| OR: 68

40/1

Form: 0360

Non-Runners

African Glory²¹

Weight: 10-4| Age: 7

T: M Todhunter J: Jamie Hamilton

Forecasts

Espoir Moriviere (4/1), Atomic Angel (5/1), Fame And Hope (11/2), Askgarmor (11/2), Yorgunnabeamunky (7/1), African Glory (10/1), Stitch Up (11/1), Flames Of Passion (12/1), Storm Force One (14/1), Great Raffles (14/1), Rivabodiva (20/1), Late Date (25/1), Filou D'Anjou (40/1), Skipness (40/1), Dorothy's Flame (100/1)

Runner-up from a 6 lb higher mark at this venue 12 months ago, ESPOIR MORIVIERE took a step back in the right direction when third in a C&D event last month, and with the return to forecast heavy ground a plus, all looks set fair for a good showing. Askgarmor, Stitch Up and Flames of Passion are others to consider in the finale.