Hexham - Wednesday 7th December

 

This is a competitive little race and the final climb here to the finishing straight could catch out a few fancied by the market who aren't either proven at this sort of trip or who may need the run.

 

Gold Emery for the McCain yard has a 3 miles P2P background but has been off for 289 days and you'd have to think is more of a long term prospect, Les's Legacy is very progressive at 2 miles and won last time off a mark of 95, it goes up 1/2 mile here and up that hill that could expose any chinks 0ff a mark of 101 and at the price, I'm happy to take it on. Sheriff Garrett has been a great NH servant for Tim Easterby and is the one they all have to beat on proven form, he's very solid and IF you wanted a win or e/w saver banker at around 4/1, that would be some good solid insurance.

 

Fennas Loss who has won a NHFlat race here has had a run over Hurdles and comes into the "could be anything2 category but there are a few with more proven form that I'm keen to invest in. Benito has ability but is inconsistent and the current mark does look a little high and prohibitive to me, Dolly Dancer has some good form at the course and over this distance, it's had a wind operation since it's ast run and a mark of 92 is decent enough, my main niggle is that all of its best runs have been on Good Going. One I'm going to TRACK is Roxborough Road, it was a really progressive horse over Fences and Hurdles before a tendon injury, it's desperately needed it's 2 runs back off a long break, whether that's fitness or the fact that the injury has taken its toll we don't know yet but one to watch for any signs of gradual improvement.

 

My strongest fancies at nice e/w prices are PERFECT MAN for Micky Hammond who should be reaching concert pitch now fitness wise after 2 runs and looks primed to start to deliver off this mark, TOMORROWS ANGEL is a 2 mile willer on the Flat and drops back from 3 miles which seems to be the preferred Hurdle trip, with that proven stamina and also 2 miles Flat speed it could be one that's staying on, especially if they go off a bit too quickly up front. Finally, I wouldn't completely rule out KALAHARRY at a big price, a Course winner off a mark of 114 last May (2021), it's won at 3 miles off a mark of 107, should be fit after 2 runs and off a mark of 100, is a longshot with a decent shout.

 

 

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Another competitive race to assess although I think some deadwood at the bigger prices.

 

At the head of the market is Just Jess from the Sue Smith yard (more of her later), it's a yard running in to form, this one just got this trip at Newcastle and who at the price I just have a few stamina niggles about but definitely a progressive horse. Pfaff Bubbles for the equally talented Rebecca Menzies is also upped in trip from 2 miles and 4 furlongs and completing the top 3 in the market is ROBBIE DAZZLER who we've tipped to be runner up the last twice but who gets a couple of pounds for being a runner up. On proven cast iron form and an each way or a win banker on him is something I'll leave to your discretion but a very logical bet.

 

Of the remainder who I think have chances, Storm Force One has solid form credentials at the trip but I think a flatter sharper Track may suit it better, Moonacura is likely to improve for its seasonal debut run but I'm not convinced about the trip or the suitability of the going for this one, Loughermore shoulders top weight and reverts from Chasing probably looking for a confidence boost, and that leaves me with 3 at very nice e/w prices who really caught my eye.

 

MONTICELLO started in Sprints on the Flat but definitely gets this trip over Hurdles, its best run has been over this Course and Distance off a mark of 80 and it runs off 82 here, HOWZAT HIRLS is best at 3 miles from the Hammond yard and gets further, a nice mark off 74 and something off a dark horse with Sean Quinlan in the saddle and finally SONGBIRDS TALE a Course and Distance winner off a mark of 74 in March, has had 3 runs this season and coming in to peak fitness and again off a mark of 74, that's what you'd call solid form?