Seasons Greetings From All At Hexham Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 6m 1.2s

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Selected odds by:

Abouttimeyoutoldme³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: A C Whillans

100/1

Moderate on the Flat (34-rated) and has limited hurdling experience; was comfortably held when falling at the second last at Musselburgh (1m7½f, soft) five weeks ago.

Form: 0F

Brigade of Guards^v²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 115

6/1

Left Alan King for £30,000 in May having kept stronger company to today's over hurdles (0-5) at the likes of Newbury and Ascot; perhaps isn't the most resolute and was never in contention on recent stable debut at Taunton.

Form: 37783-0

Kauto D'Amour²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

12/1

His dam was an unraced half-sister to the French 2m4f Listed chase winner Kauto Ray, but this gelding has appeared to be fairly light on ability so far; weakened from three out at Wetherby (2m3½f, soft) 25 days ago.

Form: P-4507

Master Newton¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby

28/1

Placed in a Sedgefield bumper (2m1f, soft) for Micky Hammond in October before moving on for £10,000; raced prominently until weakening on debut for Phil Kirby at Catterick; now introduced to hurdles for the first time in public.

Form: 96-37

Red Star Dancer³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁷⁾| T: D Thompson

40/1

Poor and regressive on the Flat (43-rated); finished a remote third (beaten 33L) to the long odds-on favourite Len Brennan at Sedgefield (2m5f, soft) 34 days ago; look elsewhere.

Form: 83

Taking Flight⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards

1/3

Stowaway gelding (cost €36,000 as a 3yo); bumper form (particularly his debut run) stacks up well in the context of this race; 5-1 when finishing 9L fourth to Corrieben Reiver on hurdles debut at Ayr (2m, soft) in October; has stamina in pedigree.

Form: 34-4

Calle Malva³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

15/2

Joined Lucinda Russell for £45,000 in May (as a former Irish pointer); not the most fluent when finishing 23L fifth of 11 to Rosie And Millie on hurdles/stable debut in a mares' maiden at Ayr (2m, soft).

Form: 44-25

Forecasts

Taking Flight (1/3), Brigade of Guards (6/1), Calle Malva (15/2), Kauto D'Amour (12/1), Master Newton (28/1), Red Star Dancer (40/1), Abouttimeyoutoldme (100/1)

A race of this nature ought to be there for the taking for Tim Vaughan's Brigade of Guards but equally one can't help but question whether or not he's the type of horse that you want on your side when going into battle. Therefore, in an otherwise very winnable maiden the preferred choice is the Nicky Richards-trained TAKING FLIGHT. His hurdles debut fourth at Ayr (2m, soft) offered encouragement for the future, and with plenty of stamina in his pedigree this step up in trip shouldn't trouble. Furthermore, his Carlisle debut third (bumper) to Lossiemouth and Thomas Macdonagh is exceptionally strong form in the context of today's race.