14:50 Hexham

Saturday 13 May 2023

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

Paxton's For Kverneland Machinery & Metal Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 6m 8.09s

Chance The Robin¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| C

85/40

Runner-up on sole start in points and build on encouraging Rules debut when landing a 5-runner bumper at this track. Solid showing when second here recently and should take all the beating now hurdling.

Form: 2/212-

Gege Ville²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 107

5/1

Landed an Ayr bumper in cosy fashion on debut and, while he has only shown modest form so far over hurdles, there is scope for improvement if his jumping gets better.

Form: 1/253-

Grand Du Nord^p1³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 99| C

9/2

Fair maiden hurdler who bounced back to form when second in a handicap at Wetherby 37 days ago. Cheekpieces on now and should be involved if able to reproduce that sort of performance.

Form: 3F8532-

Intofocus³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Thomas Dowson| T: Miss T Jackson

300/1

Telescope gelding. Dam point winner. Failed to complete all 3 starts in points, pulled up latest (Apr 8). Makes little appeal.

Form: UUP-

Now Go Soldier Go¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford

12/1

Just a glimmer of promise so far over hurdles, but stable's runners always warrant some respect on these shores, so interesting to see if there's any strength behind him in the betting.

Form: 620-7

Strike Of Lighting^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 74

50/1

Poor hurdler who was below form in a handicap at Carlisle last month and faces a stiff task here.

Form: U6PP48-

Swallows Song²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: G Sheehan| T: I Jardine| OR: 108

6/4

Made a winning start in Sedgefield bumper in November. Fair form so far over hurdles but is already beginning to look exposed. Should be thereabouts.

Form: 13235-

Third Avenue⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: J Kington| T: A Crook

250/1

Poor on Flat nowadays (respectable effort last time) and showed nothing so far over hurdles. Easily opposed.

Form: P5-

Parelli Power^p1¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 55

300/1

Tailed off in pair of bumpers and over hurdles.

Form: 0/0800-

Non-Runners

Court Case⁴⁶

Weight: 11-6| Age: 5

T: R Menzies J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Swallows Song (6/4), Chance The Robin (85/40), Grand Du Nord (9/2), Gege Ville (5/1), Court Case (10/1), Now Go Soldier Go (12/1), Strike Of Lighting (50/1), Third Avenue (250/1), Parelli Power (300/1), Intofocus (300/1)

Bumper winner CHANCE THE ROBIN already has experience over obstacles and, upped markedly in trip for his hurdling debut, he looks the one to beat. Swallows Song looks the main threat ahead of Grand du Nord, who ran with credit at Wetherby in April.