17:30 Hexham

Saturday 6 May 2023

All17:3018:0518:4019:1019:4020:1020:40

Marrill Group Coronation Day Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 6m 11.5s

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Selected odds by:

Aazza²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁸⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 105| C

13/2

Bolted up in 3m conditional jockeys' event under Dylan Johnston at Doncaster in January. Fast ground was probably against her next time and subsequent Carlisle second was a solid effort, a reproduction of which would give her a fighting chance here.

Form: U42142-

Lady Bowes^p⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlotte Jones| T: James Moffatt| OR: 99| C

18/1

Winner of a maiden hurdle here in December 2020 but rather in-and-out since and she needs to bounce back following a tame effort back at this course last time.

Form: F/P2P6P-

Dillarchie^t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: D B Hurst⁽³⁾| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 94

11/2

Chased home the progressive Johnson's Blue twice over C&D last spring (including in this corresponding race) and displayed a good attitude when opening her hudles account back from a break at Wetherby (3m, soft). 4 lb rise fair enough and likely to be in the mix once more.

Form: 7/22551-

Velasco^p,t⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Theo Gillard| T: S Corbett| OR: 92

14/1

On a potentially very handy mark judged on several pieces of form, including when twice second over fences for Tom Lacey towards the end of 2021. However, nowhere near that level in 7 starts for current yard and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 6P7077-

Freethinker^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: B Roberts⁽⁶⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 92

11/1

Found his feet with the aid of a tongue tie last year, winning a pair of handicaps at Newcastle (both over similar trips to this on good ground). Pulled up back from a 13-month absence at Southwell (24.3f, soft) but that outing will have blown away the cobwebs and he's not discounted.

Form: 95211/P-

Fiadh^p³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽³⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 91| BF| C

12/1

Cheekpieces on for the first time when landing a 9-runner Wetherby handicap (3m, soft) in March. Beaten 11½ lengths when sixth to Dillarchie over the same C&D next time, though, and will do well to turn the tables on that rival here.

Form: 8/8P516-

The Black Squirrel^p⁴⁰¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Joe Williamson| T: H Hogarth| OR: 87

66/1

Has struggled since narrowly scoring at Newcastle in November 2020 and, though now 9 lb below that winning mark, he is probably best watched following a 13-month absence.

Form: 14PP65/

Pipers Cross³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: P W Wadge| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 84| BF

4/1

Kelso bumper winner last spring and left previous hurdles efforts behind when third of 15 over this C&D in March. Backed that up when finding just one too good at Newcastle 13 days later and likely to give another good account off an untouched mark.

Form: 465832-

Having A Barney^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Tom Midgley| T: M Walford| OR: 84| BF

11/2

On the up since sent handicapping, off the mark at Ayr in March and form of subsequent second to Blue Bikini at Market Rasen (20.6f, good to soft) was boosted when the winner went in again next time. Very much one to consider for last year's winning yard (also represented by Tara Brooch).

Form: 6P5312-

Something Golden¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Jack Hogan| T: I Jardine| OR: 84

16/1

Took a step forward when third in the 8-runner Ayr handicap won by Having A Barney in March. Performed to a similar level when again placed at Newcastle next time and, though out of luck at Perth recently, he's not without each-way hope here.

Form: 563336-

Gypsey's Secret⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Lewis Stones| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 80

16/1

Showed a bit more spark when third in a Kelso novice back from a lengthy absence in December but has failed to build on that in handicaps subsequently. Others preferred.

Form: P0/3P76-

Joanna I'm Fine³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Peter Kavanagh| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 79

28/1

Got off the mark in 12-runner handicap hurdle at Ayr (24.3f, good to soft) on penultimate start. However, she needs to bounce back having produced a laboured effort behind Dillarchie at Wetherby where she was pulled approaching the third-last.

Form: 6/3031P-

Tara Brooch³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Alan Doyle| T: M Walford| OR: 78

22/1

Failed to trouble the judge in 3 runs at up to 2½m in maiden/novice company in March. Conversely, she boasts a good jumps pedigree and could be seen in an altogether better light now upped in trip for this handicap debut.

Form: 947-

Lockdown Leader²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Edward Austin| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 75

28/1

Appeared to take a step in the right direction when third of 10 in a 3m Perth handicap last summer but he has failed to reproduce form akin to that since.

Form: 53P886-

September Daisy³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 73

12/1

Seemingly back on track following a couple of low-key efforts when 5¼ lengths third of 14 to Dillarchie at Wetherby last month. Remains unexposed at staying trips but has work to do here from 6 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 4/63503-

Songbird's Tale¹³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: William Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: Paul Collins| OR: 72| CD

16/1

Successful over C&D last March she's not the most reliable of propositions and is essentially opposable on the back of heavy defeats the last twice.

Form: 13/5650-

Forecasts

Pipers Cross (4/1), Having A Barney (11/2), Dillarchie (11/2), Aazza (13/2), Freethinker (11/1), September Daisy (12/1), Fiadh (12/1), Velasco (14/1), Something Golden (16/1), Songbird's Tale (16/1), Gypsey's Secret (16/1), Lady Bowes (18/1), Tara Brooch (22/1), Joanna I'm Fine (28/1), Lockdown Leader (28/1), The Black Squirrel (66/1)

Last year's renewal of this race went to one trained by Mark Walford and in TARA BROOCH and Having A Barney the yard saddles two live contenders this time round, too. The latter's claims are the more obvious but it's not hard to envisage the well-bred Tara Brooch taking a big step forward now moving into handicap company and going up in trip. If able to put his reappearance run behind him, Freethinker won't be far away and Pipers Cross is also of interest.