15:34 Hexham

Saturday 8 October 2022

All13:1813:5414:2915:0415:3416:0816:43

Support Injured Jockeys Fund Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:34 | Winning time: 5m 15.13s

First Soldier¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 109

17/2

Fair maiden hurdler who wasn't disgraced when fifth of 12 on handicap debut at Worcester (20f) 15 days ago. That wasn't a bad run considering his yard's recent struggles, so he's not ruled out back in a maiden.

Form: 7442/35

Gaelic Park²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon

15/8

Well-bred point winner who went in again under a no-nonsense ride in a Warwick bumper in February. Took a step forward under a penalty when third at Uttoxeter, despite still looking green, and looks the type to win races over hurdles.

Form: 113-

Inis Oirr¹⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

18/1

£60,000 5-y-o, Ocovango gelding. Half-brother to 3 winners, including bumper winner/useful hurdler Ulzana's Raid and fair chaser Glorious Galway, stays 3½m. Runner-up on second of 2 starts in Irish points (Apr 16). Market should offer up some clues on Rules debut.

Form: 82-

Konik King^t¹⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Craig Nichol| T: S Corbett

40/1

Runner-up on the second of 3 bumper starts and was ridden too aggressively on C&D hurdles debut in May. Can do better but needs to.

Form: P7427-4

Paddy The Horse¹⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 113

7/2

Winning Irish pointer who has been placed on 4 of his 6 starts over hurdles, including in 16.2f handicap here in April. Must enter calculations back up in trip on return.

Form: 3R422-3

Snipe¹⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton

8/1

Soldier of Fortune gelding. Dam, modest maiden on Flat, sister to useful hurdler/chaser (stayed 2½m) Rayvin Black. Third sole outing in Irish points (Mar 27) and starts out under Rules at a realistic level, so needs respecting.

Form: 3-

The Real Rascal¹⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: Mrs J Stephen

125/1

Showed first form when fourth in a Kelso novice (18.1f) 6 months ago but he's uncertain to reproduce that.

Form: 880P4-

Finnthemagician^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: G Elliott| BF

9/4

Perth bumper winner in August who would have likely followed up on Down Royal hurdles debut but for departing at the last. Failed to build on that promise in first-time cheekpieces at Downpatrick last time but still rates a key player.

Form: 381F3

Stand Staunch²⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 108WS

100/1

Filled the frame both completed starts for Joseph O'Brien, keeping on well for fourth at Gowran last October. Easy to back and possibly unsuited by conditions when pulled up on yard debut at Wetherby (heavy) in January. Up in trip. Has had a breathing op.

Form: B24P-

Fly Away Blues²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: P W Wadge⁽⁷⁾| T: H Graham & G Rutherford

150/1

Offered little in a Kelso bumper on debut last month, dropping away quickly early in straight.

Form: 6

Non-Runners

Carrarea³⁶

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: M Walford J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Carrarea (13/8), Gaelic Park (15/8), Finnthemagician (9/4), Paddy The Horse (7/2), Snipe (8/1), First Soldier (17/2), Inis Oirr (18/1), Konik King (40/1), Stand Staunch (100/1), The Real Rascal (125/1), Fly Away Blues (150/1)

GAELIC PARK showed plenty in bumpers and, with this trip up in trip sure to suit, he gets the nod to make a winning hurdling debut. Paddy The Horse and Finnthemagician have both shown enough to suggest they have a race like this in them so warrant respect, along with Rules-newcomer Snipe.