17:15 Hexham

Saturday 2 May 2026

All16:4017:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Bobby Roberts Memorial Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 1)

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: F P Murtagh

Fair 1m winner on Flat for Michael Bell but regressive in that sphere for present yard last year and shaped as if amiss when last seen at Southwell (11f) in January. Hard to warm to now hurdling.

Form:

Jet Noir²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Peter Kavanagh| T: Mrs J Stephen

33/1

Third on his sole outing in Irish points. Well held in Newcastle bumper/Carlisle maiden hurdle (bit of promise) this spring and probably being brought along with handicaps in mind.

Form: 397-

Mickthesoldier⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Joe Williamson| T: P A Kirby

33/1

Winning pointer (little impact in 2 runs in 2026) but well held in bumper/maiden hunter chase for Denis Ahern in Ireland. Likely best watched starting out for new yard.

Form: 3P53/4P-

Passing Diamond⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: B Haslam| OR: 106

11/4

Fair bumper form in Ireland and showed much more second time up over hurdles when third at Carlisle (2m3f, soft) in February. However, not in anything like the same form when distant third at Sedgefield since. Another who will be better suited by handicaps.

Form: 1/43633-

The Brave Guy¹⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish

22/1

Third of 4 finishers in a maiden point in March 2024 and failed to make an impact in pair of quick fire runs in maiden hurdles when last seen in November. Needs this run for a mark.

Form: 3/79-

Crackalackin^p¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Luke Scott⁽³⁾| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole

10/3

Fair handicapper on Flat (stays 1½m) and he ran to a borderline similar level when 6 lengths third of 4 on hurdles bow at Fakenham (2m) last month. Cheekpieces worn then are retained and he may well build on that.

Form: 3-

Crest of Arms³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Ben Godfrey| T: A J Honeyball| BF

13/8

Makes plenty of appeal on pedigree and definite promise on first 2 starts in bumpers, impressing with the way he made his move before exertions told when seventh in a Cheltenham listed contest on New Year's Day. Clearly not 100% at Taunton next time and remains a bright prospect for hurdling.

Form: 77P-

After The Ball¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr

33/1

Maiden pointer who has finished no better than mid-field in pair of mares novice/maiden hurdles at around 2m in recent weeks. Handicaps over further will be much more her bag (bred to stay at least 3m).

Form: 4F3348-

Lipstick Traces³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Callum Bewley| T: Justin Landy| OR: 92

9/2

Runner-up twice from 3 starts in bumpers. Fourth of 15 in mares maiden on Worcester on hurdling debut but hasn't progressed since, one paced when third at Newcastle (2½m, good) 32 days ago. Likely to find a couple too good again.

Form: 324553-

Non-Runners

Expensive Emotion¹⁰

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: A Keatley J: Danny McMenamin

Forecasts

Crest of Arms (5/4), Crackalackin (7/2), Expensive Emotion (5/1), Lipstick Traces (8/1), Passing Diamond (8/1), Jet Noir (25/1), After The Ball (25/1), The Brave Guy (33/1), Mickthesoldier (33/1), Cloud Free (50/1)

CREST OF ARMS clearly wasn't himself at Taunton 6 weeks ago, yet he'd previously shaped with a good deal of promise in bumpers, notably when seventh in a big-field listed contest at Cheltenham and with his pedigree very much an ongoing recommendation for jumping, he could be the answer. Crackalackin following his Fakenham debut third in this sphere and Expensive Emotion are the dangers.