17:15 Hexham

Saturday 30 April 2022

All17:1517:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:20

Langley Castle An Outstanding Small Hotel Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:18 | Winning time: 6m 2.35s

Ryedale Racer^v⁷¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Bruce Lynn| T: C Bissett| OR: 99| CD

28/1

C&D winner. Operating below his best in 4 starts last season but he has dropped to a good mark if reviving on his first outing for a new stable.

Form: 1P/7684-

Sutton Manor^p⁶⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: P W Wadge⁽⁸⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 98

20/1

Veteran who arrives here on a long losing run. Did run well for second at Bangor in January but well held at Carlisle since.

Form: 497520-

Johnson's Blue²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Midgley| T: M Walford| OR: 95| BF| C

3/1

Winner over 2½m here last month. Better form when second at Newcastle since. Unexposed type who could easily have more to come now stepping up in trip. Leading claims.

Form: 497712-

Ribeye²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: P Atkinson| OR: 92

4/1

Better since upped to 3m, comfortably getting off the mark at Newcastle 3 weeks ago. 8 lb rise unlikely to prevent another prominent showing if turning up in similar form.

Form: 27F421-

Shantou Boudicca²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr Benjamin Abbott⁽¹⁰⁾| T: T Collier| OR: 88

150/1

LIttle impact in bumpers/over hurdles but handicaps over a longer trip do provide her with a more realistic chance. Worth a precautionary betting check.

Form: 068U53-

Dillarchie^t⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Emma Smith-Chaston| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 88

28/1

Bumper winner. Has shown ability in her qualifying runs over hurdles and it's possible she'll fare better now handicapping over a longer trip. One of more interesting runners.

Form: 14/3557-

Strike Of Lighting⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonathon Bewley| T: G Bewley| OR: 88

11/1

Yet to better modest form over hurdles, including when sixth of 13 on 17f Carlisle handicap debut 6 weeks ago. Still early days but he'll need to improve for the longer trip.

Form: 2/3P546-

Loch Linnhe²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Peter Kavanagh| T: G Boanas| OR: 87| C

25/1

Lightly raced and no great encouragement since landing a handicap chase at Southwell (3m) in spring 2019.

Form: 193/559-

Atomic Angel²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: D B Hurst⁽⁸⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 85| CD

11/4

Successful over C&D and at Sedgefield over the winter. Creditable third of 10 back at Sedgefield 22 days ago. Likely to be in the shake-up again.

Form: 141463-

Bonny Houxty^t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Theo Gillard| T: D W Whillans| OR: 81

16/1

More encouraging signs when fourth in handicap hurdle at Newcastle in February but unable to step forward from that in 2 outings since.

Form: 4/9P456-

Getaway Bay³²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Willmott⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 80| D

28/1

Winner at Uttoxeter (23f) last summer but below that level in 2 comeback runs since. Revival needed.

Form: 4/21F06-

Ex S'elance^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: William Shanahan⁽³⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 79

14/1

Going through a good spell at the moment as he has finished in the frame on his last 3 starts, third in amateurs' handicap at Carlisle (19f) 14 days ago. Up in trip with cheekpieces back on.

Form: 4F6433-

Storm Force One^b1³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Joe Williamson| T: P D Niven| OR: 76

14/1

Placed 3 times over 3m at Wetherby this year and also a respectable fourth over this C&D in December. Blinkered first time. Should figure but suspicion his maiden status might remain intact.

Form: 942633-

Queen Of Fame^b²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Tabitha Worsley| T: N Kent| OR: 76

33/1

Maiden handicap hurdler who ran her best race for this yard when third in handicap at Carlisle (25f) in February. Not in the same form twice since (distant fourth latterly). Others stronger.

Form: 5P0364-

Oscar Blue^p³¹⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-3| J: Charlotte Jones| T: Mrs J C McGregor| OR: 76| C| D

250/1

Dual hurdles winner in 2015, but not much to report since.

Form: P2PP9/P-

Non-Runners

The Black Squirrel³⁰

Weight: 11-3| Age: 9

T: H Hogarth J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Atomic Angel (11/4), Johnson's Blue (3/1), Ribeye (4/1), Strike Of Lighting (11/1), Ex S'elance (14/1), Storm Force One (14/1), Bonny Houxty (16/1), Sutton Manor (20/1), Loch Linnhe (25/1), Dillarchie (28/1), Getaway Bay (28/1), Ryedale Racer (28/1), Queen Of Fame (33/1), The Black Squirrel (33/1), Shantou Boudicca (150/1), Oscar Blue (250/1)

Mark Walford has had his team in decent form in recent months and JOHNSON'S BLUE might be up to landing a second course win of the spring, with the step up to around 3m a potential catalyst for further improvement. Ribeye, a fairly easy winner at Newcastle last time, and the consistent Atomic Angel head the dangers.