Hexham 3.00
By UK Flat / AW (Northern)
NORTHERN - Hexham 3.00 Handicap Hurdle - 2 miles 7 + 1/2 furlongs - Good to Soft (possible heavy rain) - 12 run
This is a bit of a lop-sided market and with the possibility of some heavy rain I'm happy to play a couple of more speculative cards based on my analysis of the 12 runners in detail.
Any significant deterioration in the Going would not suit Ange Endormi who has run up a nice sequence at Cartmel, whilst Wotsmyname and Dillarchie would also have fitness, going and stamina concerns too. Thatbeatsbanagher is probably the most solid betting proposition having won over further and last time out and is I think the one they all have to beat IF you want a "win saver".
Hoganville caught my eye a bit of those at bigger prices with some glimmers of Irish form but the stand out value for me are YOUR PLACE and OLIVERS ISLAND.
YOUR PLACE is in the long term Tracker (see below) and is interesting on its own merits and with the Yard in unusually good early season NH form, a spill over i think from some more Flat horses this year than they have had before who have been running well, and it'll be disappointing if YOUR PLACE isn't fit enough to do itself justice.
At big Odds I'll be disappointed actually if OLIVERS ISLAND isn't in the first 4-5 home and in with a chance of some place money. It's often run its best races when fresh, its on a decent handicap mark, enjoys mud, the trip is fine and certainly on past early NH season form in the last few seasons you'd expect it to be here to run to its merits.
TRACKER - Your Place / shrapnel - Olivers Island (win saver of you wish on Thatbeatsbanagher)