14:15 Hexham

Monday 24 April 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:07

Langley Castle An Outstanding Small Hotel Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 4m 18.23s

Patagonia^p,t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Kevin Brogan| T: G Hanmer| OR: 100| BF

9/2

Low-mileage 6-y-o who posted a very good second on yard debut in handicap chase at Wetherby (15.2f, soft) 24 days ago. Has more to offer so a bold showing is on the cards nudged up only 1 lb.

Form: 4325-42

Going Mobile^p,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 92| CD

13/2

Bagged his third success this season in 2m handicap chase at Carlisle 29 days ago, digging deep. This C&D winner can make his presence felt once more despite taking a 3 lb rise.

Form: 313351

Kingofthecotswolds³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: J K Hunter| OR: 90| D

125/1

It's now 14 runs since his last win in 2019 and he was pulled up in handicap hurdle at Carlisle (17f, soft) 36 days ago. Switches to fences with lots more required.

Form: 7/7046-P

Follow Your Fire^p⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 86| CD

12/1

C&D winner but he beat only one after 5 months off in handicap chase at Huntingdon (19.9f, good to soft) 8 days ago. Back down in trip with work to do.

Form: 448V77

Fourth Of July^t⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Ryan Mania| T: R M Smith| OR: 83

3/1

It's now 17 runs since his last win in 2021 but he recorded a very good third of 6 in handicap chase at Newcastle (16.3f, firm) 67 days ago. Enters calculations eased 1 lb.

Form: 233573

Ashjan^p,t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: P W Wadge⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 82

11/1

Won 3 times last spring and he got back on track when third of 7 in handicap hurdle at Carlisle (19.3f, good) 16 days ago. Needs to back it up now returned to fences.

Form: 6785P3

Cudgel^p1,t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: C O'Farrell| T: J Walton| OR: 78| CD

9/2

Capitalised on a reduced mark to garner his fifth win here in 7-runner handicap chase over C&D (heavy) 25 days ago, digging deep. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Up 4 lb but still not taken lightly.

Form: U05441

Ensel Du Perche²⁰⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 78

9/1

Remains a maiden after 20 runs. Unseated rider 7th in handicap chase here when last seen out 6 months ago. Others are more persuasive.

Form: 05552U

War At Sea^t⁶¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 77| BF

20/1

Fair maiden chaser but he has has his fitness to prove on his comeback run after 20 months off.

Form: F8/4223-

Bandit D'Ainay^t,v1²⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-2| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 73

10/1

Four-time winner over fences in France but only poor nowadays, third of 7 to Cudgel in handicap chase over C&D 25 days ago. Visor on 1st time. This veteran needs to back it up.

Form: PU48P3

Choix Des Armes²⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 72

18/1

Arrives below par, well-beaten fourth to Cudgel over C&D 25 days ago. A sketchy jumper too.

Form: 15-U794

Non-Runners

The Player Queen¹⁰⁴

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: R Dobbin J: Craig Nichol

Our Marty³⁰

Weight: 12-0| Age: 5

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: D R Fox

Shaw's Cross¹⁶

Weight: 10-12| Age: 11

T: P Henderson J: Non Runner

Budarri⁴¹

Weight: 10-10| Age: 10

T: W Coltherd J: Sam Coltherd

My Macho Man⁴⁴

Weight: 10-5| Age: 6

T: K Scott J: S Mulqueen

Forecasts

Fourth Of July (3/1), Cudgel (9/2), Patagonia (9/2), Going Mobile (13/2), Ensel Du Perche (9/1), Bandit D'Ainay (10/1), Budarri (10/1), My Macho Man (10/1), Ashjan (11/1), Follow Your Fire (12/1), Shaw's Cross (12/1), Our Marty (16/1), Choix Des Armes (18/1), War At Sea (20/1), The Player Queen (20/1), Kingofthecotswolds (125/1)

Not so competitive as the numbers suggest and Gary Hanmer's new recruit PATAGONIA looks the way to go nudged up only 1lb for his very good Wetherby runner-up effort last month. Cudgel is always to be much respected round here and is next on the list ahead of another C&D scorer Going Mobile.