Racing returns to Hexham Racecourse on Wednesday afternoon, with a six-race card made up of four hurdle races and two steeplechases.
Read on for a preview of the Hexham card, brought to you by Betway.
We begin with a mares’ novices’ hurdle, run over two miles (12.55). After a good start over hurdles at Wetherby last month, Adrian Keatley’s Azahara Palace could go one better today, having run very good races on the Flat on heavy ground when trained by Hughie Morrison. Henry Daly’s Trinity Street looks a positive too but lacks a previous run over hurdles so may be better for the placings.
Next is a two and a half mile maiden hurdle (1.25). Tashkhan is an intriguing first-timer over hurdles here for Brian Ellison, having been a Group level performer on the Flat. He lacks experience over obstacles but will trump many of these on class. Acting on soft ground and fit from a run in the November Handicap at Doncaster last month, he could be the one to beat.
Race three is a handicap hurdle run over two and a half miles (1.55). This race has a small but quite competitive field, with Getaway Master and Irish raider King Gris looking to be the ones to battle it out at the end. It is the Gordon Elliott-trained Irish horse, though, who gets the final vote. He won at Ayr on testing ground earlier this month and is given back the majority of his penalty by claiming rider Charlie Maggs, so could win again for his in-form handler.
The fourth race is a handicap hurdle run over two miles and seven furlongs (2.25). This is a reasonably open-looking affair but James Walton’s horse, West Lawn, who wears first-time cheekpieces here, might be able to get to the front on a new low mark.
A better option might, though, turn out to be topweight Guernesey, who is given seven pounds by his rider and might take a step forward from a good second of 12 at Kelso last time off the same mark.
Second to last is a two and a half mile handicap chase (2.55). This could become a tight contest, with two of the eight runners having won their last starts. Nick Alexander’s Orkney Blue, though, may quietly have a nice chance here on his fourth handicap start. He has come two pounds down the weights since last time, goes well on heavy ground and looks best over this trip. The trainer’s horses have been running well and this might be his next winner.
Last of all is a two-mile handicap chase (3.25). Not an overly strong race, there ought to be a few chances among the nine runners. Dixie Cowboy won his last start for Sam England but has risen sharply in the weights since, so Lizzie Quinlan’s Blended Stealth might be one to consider instead, on what should be a winnable mark.
Hexham Selections - Wednesday (via Sporting Life):
12.55 - Azahara Palace
1.25 - Tashkhan
1.55 - King Gris
2.25 - Guernesey
2.55 - Orkney Blue
3.25 - Blended Stealth
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