14:40 Hexham

Monday 28 March 2022

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:20

Happy Birthday The 3 Worst Tipster's Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 5m 13.50s

Follow Your Arrow¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 105

4/1

Winless following four attempts between the flags and 0-5 in this sphere. Still, he has performed with credit on a couple of occasions under Rules, including when third in a 16.2f novice here recently, and merits respect back up in trip for this handicap debut.

Form: PP3663

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Le Grand Vert²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 104

18/1

Hurdles winner in France last summer, but hasn't made much of an impact in two starts on this side of the Channel and others make greater appeal here.

Form: 3-1FF44

Augharue³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: D R Fox| T: W Coltherd| OR: 102

6/1

Stepped up on low-key bumper form when finding one too good on hurdles debut at Kelso (16.2f). Failed to build on that over the same C&D next time, but mark for this handicap debut looks fair and now tries a new trip.

Form: 45423

Thatbeatsbanagher^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 99| BF

10/1

Three-time winner for Enda Bolger in Ireland and belied odds of 33/1 when opening account for third yard at Sedgefield (27f) last month. Not in the same form over the same C&D next time and looks vulnerable.

Form: 45P414

Tokaramore^p⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Miss Alisa McClung⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 94| CD

9/1

Back-to-back winner of handicap chases last year, latterly at this course in October. Below par the last twice, but resumes in this sphere on a workable mark and she's certainly not discounted.

Form: 441167

Guidedbythescience^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 94

10/1

Promising signs on hurdles debut/second start for this yard at Sedgefield in January. Has failed to build on that since, though, and needs to raise her game now pitched into a handicap for the first time.

Form: 4-46446

Johnson's Blue²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 87

5/2

Yet to trouble the judge, but it's still early days for this 5-y-o and there were positives to take from his handicap debut effort at Newcastle (20.3f) earlier this month. Now 3 lb lower and worth a second look.

Form: 4977

Glory^v⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Mr Paddy Barlow⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 84

11/2

Remains a maiden following 29 attempts overall (Flat and jumps), but he put in a good shift back from 10 months off when third of 14 at Carlisle (17f) eight days ago. Step back up in trip no bad thing and he's one to consider.

Form: 58-6583

Dan Gun^p¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 76| D

16/1

Successful twice off higher marks than this for Dan Skelton last spring. However, he hasn't shown a great deal since joining present yard and first-time cheekpieces (retained here) didn't have the desired effect at Sedgefield.

Form: F75807

Abouttimeyoutoldme^p1³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 65

150/1

Record stands at 0-10 over hurdles following a tame effort at Musselburgh and, unless the first-time cheekpieces spark significant improvement, he's likely to struggle once again from 14 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 60P/60P

Forecasts

Johnson's Blue (5/2), Follow Your Arrow (4/1), Glory (11/2), Augharue (6/1), Tokaramore (9/1), Thatbeatsbanagher (10/1), Guidedbythescience (10/1), Dan Gun (16/1), Le Grand Vert (18/1), Abouttimeyoutoldme (150/1)

Having taken a step back in the right direction here recently, FOLLOW YOUR ARROW may well be the answer. Indeed, this step back up in trip should be in his favour and he has been handed what appears to be a fair mark for this handicap debut. The same is also true of Augharue who, like fellow 5-y-o Johnson's Blue, needs a second look, but if on a going day back hurdling Tokaramore could be the main danger. Glory also enters calculations.