13:40 Hexham

Monday 24 April 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:07

Hexham Racecourse Welcomes Racing To School 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:44 | Winning time: 4m 18.72s

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Selected odds by:

Bingoo²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlotte Jones⁽³⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 119| CD

7/4

Won 2 of his 4 starts this season, finding a little more improvement when taking 4-runner handicap hurdle over C&D (heavy) 27 days ago. More on plate now but should give another good account.

Form: 21-1331

Rock Hurley³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 121| BF

7/1

Dual winner in France but somewhat disappointing on UK debut in Bangor handicap hurdle 30 days ago. Still warrants plenty of respect here, however.

Form: FP-F114

Eclair D'Ainay^p,t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 127| D

6/4

Useful chaser who was below form in that sphere at Chepstow 14 days ago. Had easily taken a 3-runner novice over hurdles at Market Rasen previously, though, and must enter calculations back over the smaller obstacles.

Form: 22-3613

Bella Bliss^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Brian Hayes| T: J C McConnell| OR: 116

7/1

Won a couple of hurdles on good ground last summer and shaped better than distance beaten when seventh in handicap at Downpatrick (18.8f, heavy) 22 days ago. One to take seriously.

Form: 211UB7

Harper Valley¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies

28/1

Posted promising fifth of 13 in novice hurdle at Wetherby (16f, soft) on NH debut 18 days ago, finishing with running left. Likely to improve and could be a player.

Form: F5

Henry Gray¹¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr

28/1

Showed more than on debut when fourth of 11 in novice hurdle at Newcastle (20.3f, soft, 18/1) in December but looks one for handicaps down the line.

Form: 1-54

Hostile Hotelier¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁵⁾| T: J Candlish

125/1

Finished well held in novice hurdle at Southwell (15.8f, soft) on NH debut 12 days ago. Up against it.

Form: P-429

Mister Smarty⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss T Jackson

250/1

Well held in a couple of bumpers and can only be watched on first crack at hurdling.

Form: 87

Navigate West¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ross Chapman| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

50/1

Hinted at ability on the first of 2 outings in bumpers and been a similar story in a couple of runs over timber. Probably won't be of interest until sent handicapping, though.

Form: 6037

Izzy Bell^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Thomas Dowson| T: M A Barnes| OR: 96

40/1

Offered more than previously when third of 8 in novice hurdle at Carlisle (19.3f, good) 16 days ago. Each-way claims if able to build on that.

Form: 098-PP3

You Some Girl^h¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: R Menzies| D

20/1

Fair bumper performer who wasn't seen to best effect when sixth of 13 in Wetherby novice (16f, soft) on hurdles bow 18 days ago, needing stronger gallop. However, percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 13506

Forecasts

Eclair D'Ainay (6/4), Bingoo (7/4), Bella Bliss (7/1), Rock Hurley (7/1), You Some Girl (20/1), Harper Valley (28/1), Henry Gray (28/1), Izzy Bell (40/1), Navigate West (50/1), Hostile Hotelier (125/1), Mister Smarty (250/1)

Slight preference is for BELLA BLISS, who was far from disgraced in testing ground last time and should find conditions more in her favour here. Eclair d'Ainay and Rock Hurley may provide the chief threat.