It’s Hexham Racecourse’s ‘Celebrating Northumberland’ evening meeting on Tuesday and it’s great to see some decent prize money on offer across the seven races, the feature of which is the Port Of Blyth Novices’ Handicap Chase.
Read on for a preview of and tips for the Hexham card, brought to you by Sporting Life.
We begin with a three-mile conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle (5.50).
Billy Aprahamian’s new recruit Artiste d’Ainay travels a fairly long way from home in Northamptonshire for this race, which could be a positive, but the gelding is more within his comfort zone in point-to-points.
Jeteye could be on a winnable mark now, but won't want any rain, while My Boy Christie likes this track and could be at the sharp end.
The most valuable and, therefore, feature race of the evening is next; the two-mile Port Of Blyth Novices’ Handicap Chase (6.20), worth nearly £7,000 to the winning connections.
Bamburgh-based trainer Adam Nichol runs Conquer The Breeze, who won by a good margin over course and distance earlier in the month.
He’s risen in the handicap since, but remains highly competitive in this company.
A change of scene may have done Raffles Wonder some good and he is on his latest winning mark, so he could be worth thinking about.
Race three is a two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase (6.50).
The Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith-trained Scairp Dubh, whose career began with local point-to-point trainer Kate Leckenby, was a course and distance winner a little over two weeks ago, staying on impressively.
The rest of the field don’t bring too much in the way of good recent form, so he may be able to reproduce that run.
Out On Her Own is the only one who really poses any sort of threat, but is 20lbs lower in the handicap than Scairp Dubh.
A three-mile handicap chase follows (7.20).
Tom Gretton’s Milan Milos was a winner last time out and still looks fairly competitive, but the Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore-trained Killybegs Jet Lady ran a good race over course and distance last time and should be in the running as well.
Dr Shirocco would have a fair each-way chance if the price allows.
The fifth race, a two-and-a-half-mile novices’ hurdle (7.50) sees a horse owned by the King and Queen coming to Hexham; the Nicky Henderson-trained Bold Step.
The late Queen Elizabeth II had one winner from one runner at Hexham, which could bode well for this son of Scorpion in the Royal silks.
A good second of 11 in a bumper at Exeter in January, this horse represents a yard with an extraordinarily high strike rate of 42% at this track, and the yard know the gelding’s family well, having trained both his dam and his two half siblings to eight wins between them.
Passing Diamond is a winner at this track as of earlier this month, but the unexposed Royal runner appears to be the one to beat.
Second to last is a two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle (8.20).
Otterburn-based trainer Susan Corbett’s Sunset Hill looks to be getting closer to her better form, having reverted back to hurdles last time after remaining winless over fences.
She is consistently good over course and distance, and a recent rise in the weights may prove manageable.
Balboa may cause a problem, though, as might Double Digits, who goes well at Hexham.
Racing concludes with a two-mile handicap hurdle (8.50).
Susan Corbett’s Fairly Fulling has had a break since his latest winning start in March, but this new mark looks stiff.
Adam Nichol’s Fine Point could be the winner, down one pound since placing third of nine at Kelso in April.
11-year-old veteran Malangen tends to run well here and could be a decent each-way pick if the prices allow.
Hexham selections - Tuesday:
- 5.50 - My Boy Christie
- 6.20 - Conquer The Breeze
- 6.50 - Scairp Dubh
- 7.20 - Killybegs Jet Lady, Dr Shirocco e/w
- 7.50 - Bold Step
- 8.20 - Balboa
- 8.50 - Fine Point
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