16:50 Hexham

Saturday 7 May 2022

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:20

Jean Margaret Alcock Memorial Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 6m 32.38s

Scottish Accent^b1,t⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: R Menzies| OR: 106

16/1

Scored in handicap chase at Kelso (20f) in January and good second at Carlisle next time. Rare below-par effort when fifth over C&D last week and blinkers replace the usual cheekpieces. Type to bounce back quickly.

Form: 41263-5

Prince Dundee^p,t⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 105| CD

22/1

Won this corresponding event last year (from a mark of 100) and hit the crossbar on 3 subsequent occasions since. Probably still in form when fourth over a marathon trip here back in March but he's probably still a shade too high in the weights.

Form: 9222B4-

Croagh Patrick^t⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 103| BF| C| D

7/2

Has improved for a breathing operation, making the most of a good opportunity here before following up at Carlisle (20f). Good effort when runner-up over C&D last week and he's fancied to be in the mix from 2 lb higher.

Form: 36211-2

Midnight Glance⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 102

10/1

3-time winner over hurdles, latest coming at Market Rasen in March, doing well to win given he still had all 5 rivals to pass in a modestly-run affair turning for home. Now switched over the larger obstacles and interesting to see how he fares in the market.

Form: 528/721-

Dolly Dancer^t⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: C O'Farrell| T: M A Barnes| OR: 100| CD

15/2

C&D winner this time last year off 9 lb higher. Turned in a lacklustre display at Carlisle last month and only got as far as the first when unseating over C&D a fortnight later. Leap of faith required to support her.

Form: PP234-U

Thatbeatsbanagher^p¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 100

17/2

Sedgefield scorer in February who produced a career best in defeat when a head second back at that venue 18 days ago. Little impact over fences for his current yard but given his current mood, he has the be high on the shortlist from this mark.

Form: P41452-

Wavelength²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N W Alexander| OR: 95

5/1

Fair maiden hurdler in Ireland for Gavin Cromwell. Has an unconvincing chase record but easily ran his best race for the yard when runner-up over C&D 26 days ago, seeing out the longer trip thoroughly. Expected to feature from the same mark.

Form: R87662-

Dee Star^p,t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Benjamin Poste| T: G Hanmer| OR: 90| D

10/1

Ran poorly in mud at Uttoxeter in December and while he wasn't disgraced when sixth over C&D last month, it was all rather laboured. Others make more appeal.

Form: 4733P6-

Real Armani^t²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Ryan Mania| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 89| CD

4/1

Upped his game on back of a wind op when landing back-to-back C&D handicaps last March. Largely creditable efforts in defeat since and ought to be in the shake-up with his mark easing a further 3 lb.

Form: 353363-

Hidden Cargo^v1²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: Thomas Dowson| T: J C Haynes| OR: 81| CD

16/1

Finally got off the mark at the 31st time of asking when seeing off 5 rivals in a weak C&D handicap in March but predictably not in the same form a fortnight later. Visor now applied.

Form: 336218-

Miami Present^p,t1²⁰⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 10-2| J: J Kington| T: H Bethell| OR: 79| DWS

40/1

Hadn't been seeing his races out but ran better than for a good while from his falling mark when runner-up at Huntingdon back in October. Cheekpieces/tongue tie on for reappearance.

Form: P/04772-

Forecasts

Croagh Patrick (7/2), Real Armani (4/1), Wavelength (5/1), Dolly Dancer (15/2), Thatbeatsbanagher (17/2), Dee Star (10/1), Midnight Glance (10/1), Hidden Cargo (16/1), Scottish Accent (16/1), Prince Dundee (22/1), Miami Present (40/1)

THATBEATSBANAGHER has been in fine form over timber recently, and while his efforts over fences for this yard last year left plenty to be desired, Ben Haslem's charge should be well capable from this sort of mark. Midnight Glance notched a third success over hurdles at Market Rasen in March, and with Alan King enjoying a fruitful time of things with chasing debutants in the last 12 months, he could be the main danger. Wavelength and Croagh Patrick may also feature.