18:30 Hexham

Saturday 15 June 2024

All16:1716:5217:2718:0018:3019:00

Billy Turnbull Celebration Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:31 | Winning time: 5m 12.78s

Caius Marcius^p¹⁸²

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 126| C| D

18/1

Admirable veteran who bagged a 21f Newton Abbot handicap hurdle last summer. Has generally struggled for form since but warrants a market check back from 6 months off.

Form: 1/31556-

Chilinlikeavillain^t⁴⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 124| D

20/1

Much improved after wind surgery last winter, winning a 20.5f Southwell maiden. Absent for 15 months ahead of handicap debut but still an interesting runner, particularly if backed.

Form: 28321/

Barbados Buck's^p³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Ryan Mania| T: D Bourke| OR: 123

9/1

Quite a useful hurdler for Paul Nicholls and struck at the second time of asking for his new stable in small-field handicap at Carlisle (25f, heavy) in December. Below that level since but he at least drops back in grade now.

Form: 41396-9

Egality Mans⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 119WS

80/1

Useful chaser in his pomp for Willie Mullins but lost his way and has been pulled up twice in points this year. Potentially well handicapped but has a bit to prove.

Form: PF5/4PP-

Hartur D'oudairies²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 117| BF| C

7/4

Going the right way and has very much taken to this track, scoring here in May, then backing it up with a good second to Well Educated. Can turn the tables with that rival on significantly better terms.

Form: P052-12

Well Educated²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonathon Bewley| T: G Bewley| OR: 117| CD

9/2

Confirmed previous encouragement when capitalising on a reduced mark at Hexham last month and followed up 5 days later at Kelso. Should go well again but he's 8 lb worse off with Hartur D'Oudairies from their last meeting.

Form: 336-511

Imperial Data^p1¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 117| D

7/2

Likeable sort with an excellent strike rate under Rules, producing another improved showing to score at Cartmel last time. Cheekpieces could draw out more still, and he's worthy of interest.

Form: 2111-51

Accidental Rebel^t³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: D R Fox| T: L Kerr| OR: 117| D

50/1

Useful hurdler at best for Fergal O'Brien, winning 4 times from 6 starts in the 2022/23 campaign. However, absent for 14 months subsequently and has offered little in 2 Perth handicap hurdles for new stable this spring.

Form: 1218/P-8

Kingston Bridge³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 110

5/1

Back on the up when scoring at Kelso in April and far from disgraced when eighth in more competitive race there last month. Others look better treated.

Form: 33681-8

Forecasts

Hartur D'oudairies (7/4), Imperial Data (7/2), Well Educated (9/2), Kingston Bridge (5/1), Barbados Buck's (9/1), Caius Marcius (18/1), Chilinlikeavillain (20/1), Accidental Rebel (50/1), Egality Mans (80/1)

HARTUR D'OUDAIRIES was denied by Well Educated here in May but there's more to come from him and his old rival is much worse off at the weights having scored again since, so the first-named gets the nod. Imperial Data should typically put up a solid showing.