16:15 Hexham

Saturday 1 June 2024

All16:1516:5517:3018:0518:3519:07

Susan & Neve's Special Birthday Celebration Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:16 | Winning time: 4m 14.94s

Captain Zebo²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr John Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: J E Dixon| OR: 117| CD

5/1

Made it 7 wins from 24 hurdles starts when scoring here (2½m, good to soft) 3 weeks ago. That was his first run for 10 months, so he's entitled to come on for it and dropping back in trip won't be an issue (scored over C&D last June). However, one or two of these make more appeal for win purposes.

Form: 53133-1

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Paddy The Horse⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonathon Bewley| T: G Bewley| OR: 106| CD

11/4

Back-to-back winner here in 2022, latterly taking a C&D handicap off a 7lb higher mark. Hasn't managed to get his head in front since but he's clearly very effective here (course form figures read 23112) and is a big player judged on his decent effort in a Class 2 Kelso handicap last time.

Form: P/46325-

Allbetsoff^h²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 105| CD

5/1

Bagged handicaps at Southwell and over C&D in 2023, plus a 6-runner Huntingdon claimer in November. Didn't shape badly on return at Southwell (20.4f, good) in April and failure to settle proved costly over the same C&D next time. Drops back in trip here with the hood refitted and couldn't rule out.

Form: 14104-8

Snookered²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Dowson| T: H Burns| OR: 104| D

80/1

Multiple scorer for Brian Ellison but you have to go back to July 2022 for his latest success and he offered little on debut for new yard following a 16-month absence here (pulled up in the handicap won by Captain Zebo) 3 weeks ago.

Form: 36544/P

Book of Secrets²⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Leah Noreci⁽¹⁰⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 102

11/1

Confirmed his return to form in running away with a weak maiden at Market Rasen last August. However, beaten a fair way both subsequent starts and he's opposable starting out for new connections on the back of an 8-month absence.

Form: 442142-

Serious Ego³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁵⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 101| CD

7/2

Veteran who won back-to-back C&D handicaps in November and added to his tally at Perth (16.2f, soft) last time. 5 lb rise for that is offset by Conor Rabbitt's claim, a capable conditional rider who is 2-3 when partnering this gelding. Strong claims.

Form: 683381-

Malangen^h¹⁹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 96| D

50/1

Successful twice at Perth last year but he was a below-par third (beaten nearly 20 lengths) behind Serious Ego over C&D when last seen in November. Hood back on.

Form: 144543-

Prince Nino^p,t⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 90

28/1

Struck gold twice at Perth in 2023 but form has tailed off since his latest success in September and his effort at Market Rasen last time was particularly poor.

Form: 644P7P-

Chumlee^h⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: P W Wadge⁽³⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 85

9/2

Low-mileage 9-y-o who left his qualifying runs well behind when making a successful handicap debut over 17f at Newcastle last spring. Doubled his tally over the same C&D in January and placed at Kelso and Carlisle either side of that, but this demands a clear personal-best.

Form: 991/312-

Forecasts

Paddy The Horse (11/4), Serious Ego (7/2), Chumlee (9/2), Allbetsoff (5/1), Captain Zebo (5/1), Book of Secrets (11/1), Prince Nino (28/1), Malangen (50/1), Snookered (80/1)

The vote goes to PADDY THE HORSE, who did well all things considered to finish as close as he did in a stronger race than this at Kelso last time. Dropping back in trip here won't be an issue for the 9-y-o. Serious Ego regained the winning thread at Perth and he is feared most ahead of Allbetsoff and Captain Zebo.