Season's Greetings From Hexham Racecourse Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 6m 6.85s

Applaus^p,t²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 105| C

16/1

Untrustworthy individual. Came in last of 5 in 2m handicap here 21 days ago but had been a creditable third at Carlisle prior to that.

Form: 247735

Teescomponentstrig^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: G Boanas| OR: 105

15/2

Opened his account in good style in 3m Newcastle handicap hurdle in January 2020 but only seen 3 times since, finishing last of 9 at Kelso on last month's return from a whopping 697 days off. Entitled to strip fitter but can still only watch.

Form: 23143/9

Zwicky²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: P A Kirby| OR: 103| BF| D

6/5

Highly progressive handicap hurdler around 2½m, winning at Sedgefield and Carlisle under Sean Quinlan in October. Progressed again when length third of 15 at Doncaster 26 days ago and the one to beat.

Form: 513-113

Juge Et Parti^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny McMenamin| T: J Ewart| OR: 102| D

4/1

Well below his best for the most part last season but mark has dipped as a result and he showed he's returned from 7 months off in reasonable form when second of 8 over C&D 21 days ago. The task is to build on that now.

Form: P74P-P2

Beaumesnil^p¹⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Coltherd| T: S Corbett| OR: 98

4/1

Went close in a 2m course novice hurdle in June. Bit better than the result when fourth of 6 on 16.5f Market Rasen handicap debut in July. Returns from a 5-month break with unexposed potential.

Form: P/6-424

Halpha Soleil²³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 97

7/1

Successful twice in French bumpers (tongue tied second time) but only modest form over hurdles for this yard in the spring. Still early in his hurdle career but watching brief advised on return unless the betting hints otherwise.

Form: 515446-

Non-Runners

Paddy The Horse³²

Weight: 12-0| Age: 8

T: G Bewley J: Jonathon Bewley

Forecasts

Zwicky (6/5), Juge Et Parti (4/1), Beaumesnil (4/1), Paddy The Horse (5/1), Halpha Soleil (7/1), Teescomponentstrig (15/2), Applaus (16/1)

ZWICKY is a handicapper going the right way and can resume winning ways with Sean Quinlan back in the saddle. Paddy The Horse should be sharper for his chase reappearance and is now 3 lb lower than when winning a handicap here last season so he's second choice ahead of the low-mileage Beaumesnil.