Follow Hexham Racecourse On Facebook Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 7m 33.11s

Tommydan^p⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 96| D

17/2

Progressive last autumn and picked up where he left off after a 7-month break when landing 11-runner handicap hurdle at Southwell in June. Below form since, including in this sphere, but couldn't rule out off current mark (3 lb lower than for his aforementioned hurdles success).

Form: 52-1348

Lights Are Green¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Edward Austin⁽⁵⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 94| BF| CD

11/4

Took well to fences earlier this year, scoring over this C&D and at Cartmel at the start of the summer. The handicapper has been winning the argument since but he's edging back down the weights and is certainly one to consider.

Form: 132734

Eveque¹⁶⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 78

4/1

Below par initially during the spring following a 12-month absence he bettered those efforts when fourth in a 15-runner C&D handicap when last seen in April. Resumes on a 1 lb lower mark and bold show likely, provided he's ready to roll.

Form: 25P/564-

West Lawn³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: J Walton| OR: 77| C| D

11/2

Winning pointer and successful twice over hurdles (both at 23.3f) here last year. No impact in 3 runs in this sphere to date but she will be a threat off this reduced mark if things were to click for her.

Form: 741-P5P

Janeslittlevoice^p1¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Harriet Tucker⁽⁷⁾| T: Ella Pickard| OR: 75

15/8

Poor maiden hurdler but hasn't done a great deal wrong since switched to fences, runner-up on first 3 starts in this sphere prior to a deserved breakthrough success at Newton Abbot (25.8f, heavy) a fortnight ago. Up just 1 lb but that wasn't much of a race and more will be needed here.

Form: U52221

Forecasts

Janeslittlevoice (15/8), Lights Are Green (11/4), Eveque (4/1), West Lawn (11/2), Tommydan (17/2)

This looks trappy and the vote goes to EVEQUE, in the hope that he is fit enough to do himself justice on his first appearance since April. Jane Walton's charge was a creditable fourth in a more competitive C&D handicap when last seen and a reproduction of that would probably suffice. Tommydan has yet to trouble the judge over fences but is on a dangerous mark and could be the main threat, while Lights Are Green will have a fighting chance if returning to the form he showed earlier this year.