14:15 Hexham

Saturday 13 May 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3017:05

Forester's Friendly Society Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 6m 36.81s

Hold The Note^v²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Theo Gillard| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 112| D

11/1

Returned to form from out of the blue to score at Carlisle in March but finished well held back in novice company at Ayr (24.1f, good, 12/1) 21 days ago. Dropped 4 lb but others preferred.

Form: 5F5416-

Grange Ranger^p,t³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 109| D

12/1

Sprang a surprise at Wetherby in November and somewhat hinted at a revival in first-time cheekpieces when fourth there last month, albeit typically held back by clumsy jumping. Needs to take another step forward.

Form: F/157P4-

Avoid De Master^p¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: D B Hurst⁽⁷⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 108| CD

12/1

Won over C&D and at Market Rasen early last season but has essentially struggled for form since his next start. Given a chance by the handicapper but is tricky to fancy.

Form: 1126PP-

No Regrets^p⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 104| D

5/2

Capitalised on a much-reduced mark to land 7-runner handicap chase at Wetherby last time. Still 20 lb below peak hurdles mark and would be foolish to dismiss now that he's appeared to get the hang of things as a chaser.

Form: 647921-

Storm Lorenzo^p¹⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 104| BF| CD

6/1

C&D winner in September but has looked a tricky ride both starts since, going in snatches before unseating over longer trip in November. Worth market check on return from winter break.

Form: 32F13U-

Macavity⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: P W Wadge⁽⁵⁾| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 100| D

9/1

Dual point winner who landed an Aintree bumper on Rules debut last year but generally underwhelmed as a hurdler and hasn't shown much more in a pair of starts over fences so far. Too soon to fully dismiss but he has questions to answer.

Form: 932954-

Along Long Story^v¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Thomas Dowson| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 90

8/1

Maiden hunter winner at Thurles (25f) last year for Sean Aherne but showed nothing for this yard last term and he's very hard to fancy again.

Form: 50P0P7-

Lights Are Green¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 85| D

5/2

Point winner didn't make much impact in a trio of starts over hurdles over shorter trips but looked sure to be placed when falling at the last over C&D on chase debut last month. Respected.

Form: 6/1533F-

Non-Runners

Uptown Harry⁴⁸

Weight: 11-10| Age: 9

T: Mrs J Walton J: Ross Chapman

Forecasts

Lights Are Green (5/2), No Regrets (5/2), Uptown Harry (11/4), Storm Lorenzo (6/1), Along Long Story (8/1), Macavity (9/1), Hold The Note (11/1), Avoid De Master (12/1), Grange Ranger (12/1)

NO REGRETS got off the mark over fences last time and remains potentially well treated on his hurdles form, so is fancied to follow up at the chief expense of fellow last-time-out winner Uptown Harry. Lights Are Green is perhaps the unknown quantity having shown more promise on his chase debut here recently.