14:48 Hexham

Sunday 23 June 2024

All14:1814:4815:1815:4816:1816:4817:1817:48

Langley Castle Hotel Supporting Ladies Day Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:48 | Winning time: 6m 5.72s

Breakdance Kid^p⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 104| C

6/1

Improved for the switch to chasing, opening his account at Market Rasen (23.8f) in February and dispelled 2 distinctly lesser efforts with a career-best success over 3m here 8 days ago. Positively ridden then and claims if translating that improvement back to the smaller obstacles.

Form: 541P-71

Defence Witness^p1¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 101

16/1

Fairly useful form when landing a Catterick bumper in November. Made the frame both starts in novice/maidens thereafter but disappointed (after 4 months off) on handicap debut at Uttoxeter 17 days ago. Cheekpieces go on now tackling this marked longer trip and it remains early days.

Form: 1/133-9

Jeteye^b1,t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 96

10/1

Runner-up on completed start in points and in handicap hurdle at Southwell in April. Not made much of an impact in pair of chase tries subsequently but not out of the question a switch back to hurdling could have a positive effect. Interesting if market speaks in his favour. Blinkers on 1st time.

Form: P7P2-P7

Better Be Definite³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 92| CD

9/4

Much improved away from testing ground in recent months, making it 2 wins from his last 3 starts in 10-runner C&D handicap 33 days ago, leading on line. Looks a live player again nudged up another 3 lb.

Form: 8691-21

Agilulf³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D R Fox| T: A Nicol| OR: 90

22/1

Still looking for first success and whilst he dispelled a poor run at Perth when finishing midfield over 2m here last time, others appeal more for win purposes upped significantly in trip.

Form: 4/U63P-7

Toscan Genius²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Craig Nichol| T: B Ellison| OR: 87

40/1

Modest Flat winner who had showed promise in this sphere prior to a low-key handicap debut display at Cartmel (17.2f) 25 days ago. Needs to leave that well behind upped significantly in trip but too soon to be writing him off.

Form: 26-68

Wotyoudunnow Buddy^p³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: S Corbett| OR: 85| C

7/1

Belatedly off the mark when taking 7-runner selling hurdle here (16.2f, soft) early last month but let down by his jumping in a strongly-run handicap back here 33 days ago. Takes a significant step back up in trip here.

Form: 2643-16

Dapper Gent^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁵⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 84

6/1

Runner-up in selling/maiden company in May and not disgraced when third of 10 in novices' handicap hurdle at Perth (16.2f) 2 weeks ago. Steps up markedly in trip now and fact he arrives in good heart very much a plus.

Form: 76/7-223

Emotional Roller¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 84

25/1

First sign of promise under Rules when third of 12 on 2½m Wetherby handicap debut on Boxing Day. Fell next time and low-key return from 4 months off when pulled up at Southwell (24.2f) 3 weeks ago. Needs to step up considerably on that if he's to figure here.

Form: 6P63F-P

Milan Echo⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: D Brooke| OR: 83

33/1

Ex-Irish maiden who took a step back in the right direction on first run for this trainer in November. However, failed to beat a rival both starts since. Steps up in trip here following 2 months off.

Form: P0/0457-

Iturgeon Du Breuil^p³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 83

16/1

Lightly-raced maiden who has stepped up markedly for switch to handicaps/application of cheekpieces, second of 9 in a C&D handicap 33 days ago. One of the likelier types here.

Form: 368P3-2

Ice Day^t1¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 81

40/1

Well held only start in bumpers and failed to pull up any trees in trio of mares' maiden hurdles at up to 20f. Connections quick to opt for a step up in trip on handicap debut which could well help. Market should prove a useful guide. Tongue strap on 1st time.

Form: 56-57

Lady Hamilton^p1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Ross Chapman| T: W Storey| OR: 79

9/1

Still a maiden but she has found some consistency in recent starts, third of 7 in handicap hurdle (7/1) at this course (20.1f, soft) 22 days ago, staying on run-in. Longer trip here worth exploring on that evidence.

Form: 636-543

Robert d'Ores^p⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Edward Austin⁽⁵⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 72

33/1

Shaped with definite promise over fences this time last year but he's failed to complete on each of his last 4 starts since the turn of the year, latterly when pulled up in a C&D handicap hurdle 6 weeks ago. Best watched from out of the weights here. Tongue tie left off.

Form: U8PU-PP

Forecasts

Better Be Definite (9/4), Dapper Gent (6/1), Breakdance Kid (6/1), Wotyoudunnow Buddy (7/1), Lady Hamilton (9/1), Jeteye (10/1), Iturgeon Du Breuil (16/1), Defence Witness (16/1), Agilulf (22/1), Emotional Roller (25/1), Robert d'Ores (33/1), Milan Echo (33/1), Toscan Genius (40/1), Ice Day (40/1)

BETTER BE DEFINITE has proved a different proposition since stepped up in trip/faced with less testing ground, making it 2 wins from his last 3 starts over C&D 33 days ago. Up 3 lb for that success, he looks a likely player again. Facile chase scorer here Breakdance Kid, low-mileage Defence Witness and Iturgeon du Breuil, who was runner-up himself over C&D last time, head up the dangers.