16:22 Hexham

Thursday 12 March 2026

All13:0513:4214:2215:0215:4216:2217:00

mybettingsites.com /Find & Compare Irish Bookies' Handicap Chase

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J J Murphy-Knight⁽⁷⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 105| D

Thorough stayer twice successful in the first half of 2025, latterly taking a 4-runner Southwell handicap in May. Struggled for consistency since and he jumped badly out to his left at Musselburgh last time, but he drops markedly in grade here and should be better suited by this track.

Form: 144F35

Express Surprise^t⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: R Patrick| T: C Boultbee-Brooks| OR: 105| D

Winner of 3m soft-ground handicaps at Wetherby and Uttoxeter in December. Continued in good form when fourth of 16 at Windsor (29f, soft) 53 days ago and he holds leading claims faced with a less competitive scenario now.

Form: 43-3114

Court At Slip^b¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Thomas Easterby⁽⁷⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 98| D

More than 2 years have passed since his last success but he's dropped to a mark he can compete from and arrives on the back of 5 consecutive placed efforts, running creditably when second of 8 in 3m handicap chase (5/1) at Wetherby 14 days ago. Respected again.

Form: 523322

Streamsforth Lad^p,t³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Alan Doyle⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 94

Placed twice in handicap hurdles in the autumn and though he's yet to complete in 4 starts over fences so far, he looked set to go close when falling 2 out at Stratford on Monday. Turned out quickly and he's interesting if none the worse for that tumble.

Form: 533UUF

Raceview Road³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonathon Bewley| T: G Bewley| OR: 93| D

Encouragement when fourth of 19 in a handicap hurdle at Ayr in January but failed to build on that when only mid-field back over fences at Carlisle last month. A while since he's threatened to win a chase and others are preferred.

Form: 5PP-647

Swallows Song^b,t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Danny McMenamin| T: I Jardine| OR: 90| BF

Bumper winner on debut but has looked a weak finisher in 16 winless attempts over hurdles/fences, failing to justify market support after a breathing operation when fourth of 11 in handicap chase at Ayr 30 days ago. Finished tired there and others make more appeal.

Form: 4-74464

Ballydangan²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Peter Kavanagh| T: H Burns| OR: 80| CD

Had a productive summer/autumn, winning twice over C&D, but seemingly gone off the boil of late and was well beaten at Sedgefield 3 weeks ago.

Form: 1314P4

Eveque⁴⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 10-3| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 80| CD

Veteran capitalised on a reduced mark when springing a surprise over C&D in November but little to shout about in 3 starts since.

Form: 88-15P9

Gibberwell^b³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: J Coulson| OR: 80| CD

Hard to catch right but did at least win this race last year. Has ran poorly on 3 of his 4 starts this season and return to Hexham needs to work the oracle.

Form: 15-F5PP

West Lawn³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Maggs⁽³⁾| T: J Walton| OR: 74| C| D

Both of her hurdles wins came here back in 2022 and though she's a long-standing maiden over fences, she came as close as she ever has done to shedding that tag when second of 4 at Catterick (25f, soft) last month. Out of the weights again.

Form: 645632

Ex S'elance^p¹⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 10-2| J: Miss Pippa Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 67| C| D

Little recent form under Rules.

Form: 8P-63PP

Forecasts

Express Surprise (3/1), Always Busy (7/2), Streamsforth Lad (4/1), Court At Slip (11/2), Swallows Song (7/1), West Lawn (8/1), Raceview Road (14/1), Ballydangan (20/1), Eveque (33/1), Gibberwell (50/1), Ex S'elance (100/1)

EXPRESS SURPRISE landed back-to-back wins in December prior to acquitting himself really well in a stronger race than this at Windsor. He's fancied to take advantage of the drop back into 0-105 company and notch a third win of the season. Court At Slip is holding his form well and looks a reliable each-way proposition, whilst Streamsforth Lad looked set to go close when falling late at Stratford earlier in the week.