14:22 Hexham

Thursday 13 March 2025

All13:0513:4214:2215:0215:4216:2217:00

Paxton's Are Case IH's No1 Dealer Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:22 | Winning time: 5m 18.95s

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Selected odds by:

Konfusion¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 100

1/1

Strong in the market and improved when returning from 5 months off to land a 19.5f Wetherby handicap on his second start over fences, beating a subsequent winner. An 8 lb rise doesn't look enough to stop him.

Form: 988-331

Shadows In The Sky^t,v⁷¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny McMenamin| T: C Grant| OR: 98| CD

12/1

Dual C&D winner this season, latterly in October. Below par last twice but no surprise were a return to Hexham to spark a revival.

Form: 55415P

Halpha Soleil¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 96| CD

8/1

Won 2½m hurdle here off 3 lb higher in June but his chase efforts since have been no more than respectable.

Form: 418554

Fia Fuinidh²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Todhunter| OR: 95

20/1

Yet to score over fences. Did go very close at Kelso (17f) in November but disappointing since. Remains to be seen whether this step back up in trip suits.

Form: 6-22555

Diamond Mix²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Ryan Mania| T: Paul Robson| OR: 93

7/1

Improved in his second handicap chase when 6 lengths second over 2m at Newcastle 4 weeks ago, staying on as if this step back up will suit. Respected.

Form: 945572

Low Mileage^p,t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Edward Austin⁽⁵⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 92

10/1

Fairly useful maiden chaser in Ireland. Best effort for new yard from a falling mark when close second over 2½m at Musselburgh last month. Claims if he can build on that.

Form: 50-0P32

Divas Doyen^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Miss Heidi Palin⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 83| D

9/1

Finally came good in 2½m handicap at Carlisle in November. Good second on next 2 starts but not in the same form when fourth the last twice.

Form: 812244

Lewa House^p³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Bruce Lynn| T: C Bissett| OR: 77| CD

10/1

Fourteen runs since his course handicap hurdle win in 2022 but he showed he retains ability when returning from wind surgery to finish second at Ayr (20.5f) last month. Makes chase debut.

Form: 33-6662

Cudgel^p,t⁴¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: J Walton| OR: 76| C

25/1

All 6 career wins have been registered here but needs to show he's still the force of old as a 12-y-o.

Form: 2-6383P

Billable Grant²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 76

22/1

Raced mainly over hurdles, failing to make a significant impact in 4 handicap starts since joining this yard. Others are preferred back chasing.

Form: 0P0475

Derracrin²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 73| CD

80/1

Won over fences in May 2023 but pulled up in just 2 outings since. Something to prove.

Form: 745/1P-P

Forecasts

Konfusion (1/1), Diamond Mix (7/1), Halpha Soleil (8/1), Divas Doyen (9/1), Low Mileage (10/1), Lewa House (10/1), Shadows In The Sky (12/1), Fia Fuinidh (20/1), Billable Grant (22/1), Cudgel (25/1), Derracrin (80/1)

KONFUSION should have more to offer over fences and is a confident pick assuming this doesn't come a bit quick on him after Wetherby. The step back up in trip should suit last month's Newcastle runner-up Diamond Mix and he's second choice ahead of Low Mileage, who has refound some form since the cheekpieces and tongue tie combination have gone on.