15:10 Hexham

Thursday 16 March 2023

All13:5014:3015:1015:5016:3017:10

Malcolm Hopkinson Memorial Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 5m 50.84s

Fly By Milan¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards

10/1

Well-bred sort who showed fair form when placed all 4 starts in bumpers in 2020-21. Understandably wasn't given an unduly hard time on hurdling debut after the best part of 2 years off at Ayr recently and this should reveal more.

Form: 2322/5

Glenavaddra¹⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G BewleyWS

100/1

Point winner but has shown nothing in 3 runs under Rules. Has had a breathing op.

Form: 0/421-PP

Had To Be Hugo³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: R Menzies| OR: 109| BF

10/3

Runner-up sole outing in points and has made an encouraging start under Rules, beaten favourite over this trip at Ayr 30 days ago but offering up plenty of encouragement again. This should be a stiffer test and he could be the way to go.

Form: 2-324

Home Sweet Highway³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 110

6/1

Runner-up completed start in Irish points and would have been placed but for a late fall on hurdles debut at Ayr in November. Has still to progress from that, hanging left at Uttoxeter last time.

Form: P/2-F44

Quian²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Quinlan| T: T Gallagher

12/1

Smart performer on Flat (stays 2m) at one time, fairly useful nowadays, mid-field on stable debut last time (previously trained in Germany/France). Could build on that and interesting to see what the betting says on hurdles debut.

Form:

Rue Galilee²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby

150/1

Well beaten in bumper/novice hurdle.

Form: 04

Shadows In The Sky⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁵⁾| T: C Grant

25/1

Easily off mark in Irish points at second attempt and exceeded market expectations when just failing in a 3m Musselburgh maiden hurdle in January. Stiff task when well held there next time. Could be one for handicaps now.

Form: F-125

Vandemere⁸⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Billy Garritty| T: J & S Quinn

1/1

Won second of 2 starts in Irish points in March 2019 and made an encouraging belated Rules debut when runner-up in Newcastle novice over this trip on Boxing Day. Open to improvement and big player here.

Form: 31/2

Visite Officielle^p,t⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond

16/1

Fair stayer on Flat and ran to a similar level with her hurdling debut under her belt when third in a 19.7f Wetherby novice on Boxing Day. Each-way claims.

Form: 53

Non-Runners

Hell On Earth⁶¹⁴

Weight: 11-7| Age: 9

T: C Bissett J: Bruce Lynn

Forecasts

Vandemere (1/1), Had To Be Hugo (10/3), Home Sweet Highway (6/1), Hell On Earth (8/1), Fly By Milan (10/1), Quian (12/1), Visite Officielle (16/1), Shadows In The Sky (25/1), Glenavaddra (100/1), Rue Galilee (150/1)

HAD TO BE HUGO has races in him for sure and could be the way to go with this likely to be a stiff test for the trip. Point-winner Vandemere made an encouraging start over hurdles at Newcastle after a long time off and can improve, while market support for Quian, a smart stayer on the level on his day in Germany, would be interesting.