16:30 Hexham

Tuesday 25 April 2017

All13:5014:2514:5515:2516:0016:3017:05

Follow Hexham On Facebook And Twitter Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:32 | Winning time: 6m 26.0s

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Selected odds by:

Ardea²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-8| J: Mr Joe Wright⁽⁵⁾| T: Justin Landy| OR: 126

1/1

Likeable multiple winner who made amends for a final fence unseat in the 2016 Buccleuch Cup at Kelso by winning the Heart of All England over C&D in April 2016 (beating Damiens Dilemma by 5L). Never worse than second in five starts this term winning twice at Alnwick before being nudged out to score by 1½L in 3m Wetherby Hunters Chase late last month.

Form: 111221

Cave Hunter^b,t³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-4| J: Miss C Walton| T: Mrs W Hamilton| OR: 118

3/1

2015 C&D winner of the Heart of All England, and has went onto win on another four occasions since, including around the inner Point-to-Point course at this track in May 2016. Slightly disappointing on his most recent start when a beaten 4/6f behind Rossini's Dancer in a 3m Mens Open at Friars Haugh last month.

Form: 3-11172

Chicago Outfit^p³¹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr Ryan Nichol⁽⁵⁾| T: L Kerr| OR: 114

12/1

Became a standing dish in handicap chases at this track from spring 2015 onwards with five of his six rules successes coming over C&D for George Bewley. Moved on and into Hunters Chases this season, winning a 3m five runner Point-to-Point by 4L from Wicklow Lad at Overton (Lanark) last month.

Form: P5PU14-

Damiens Dilemma¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-4| J: Miss H L Bryce⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs L Coltherd| OR: 98

9/1

His sole rules success came over this C&D in June 2016 when beating Heart of Annandale by 1½L, but he'd also previously finished a 5L runner up to Ardea in the 2016 Heart of All England over C&D in April. Competitive in Point-to-Points at Friars Haugh this year, beating Wind Of Hope by a head in a Ladies Open in January.

Form: 116630

Harry The Lemmon^p³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-2| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucy Horner| OR: 100

28/1

Formerly with James Ewart under rules, and was successful on his Hunters Chase debut at Cork (for Turlough O'Connor) in March 2016. Unable to build upon that maiden success in six further starts (twice unseated), he has moved onto another new yard.

Form: U7786U

Kings Lodge^p1⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr William Easterby⁽³⁾| T: W Easterby| OR: 116

22/1

With Nicky Henderson for much of his career (until January 2015), but took a while to find his feet in Point-to-Points after a lengthy career break, but did win in that sphere at Duncombe Park in February, and has remained in fair form since, going down by 1½L to Talkonthestreet at Charm Park on Easter Monday.

Form: P-613P2

Lets Get Serious³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr C J Miller⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Miller| OR: 118

40/1

One time promising youngster for Nicky Henderson, and more latterly James Ewart, twice successful over fences at up to 3m3f. Looks a dour stayer, but his absence between June 2015 and March 2017 is a concern, and he showed little (admittedly in very deep in the Foxhunters) on his debut for this trainer at Cheltenham in March.

Form: 167/P5-9

Tallow Fair²³

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr S Lee⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucy Horner

66/1

Boasts a winning record of seven from 19 in Point-to-Points, but this will be his first start for this trainer. Unproven under rules, and whilst a Hexham Hunters Chase is hardly a taxing starting point, he's unlikely to have much in the way of improvement to offer at the age of twelve.

Form: 1P/14R3-

Young Hurricane¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr John Dawson| T: Guy Brewer| OR: 110

13/2

Boasts an impressive record in Point-to-Points (6 from 13), and comes here on a hat-trick having won his last two races; a 3m Mens Open at Askham Bryan College and a 3m Mens Open at Hornby Castle. Appears to have enjoyed the better ground, so any significant rainfall could be damaging to his chances (although he did win on Heavy ground for Dr Richard Newland way back in November 2013).

Form: FU4F11

Forecasts

Ardea (1/1), Cave Hunter (3/1), Young Hurricane (13/2), Damiens Dilemma (9/1), Chicago Outfit (12/1), Kings Lodge (22/1), Harry The Lemmon (28/1), Lets Get Serious (40/1), Tallow Fair (66/1)

With the 2017 Heart of All England upcoming at Hexham early next month, the 2015 and 2016 winners (Cave Hunter & ARDEA) do battle in a race full of previous C&D winners. Ardea is a thoroughly likeable sort who goes well for Joe Wright, and despite conceding weight all round, is taken to follow up last month's Wetherby success. Chicago Outfit loves this track, and this is far weaker than the handicaps he was winning for George Bewley in the not too distant past, whilst the hat-trick seeking Young Hurricane is probably the clear pick of those from a pointing background.