16:05 Hexham

Saturday 7 June 2025

All16:0516:4017:1517:5018:2018:50

Neil Pennington 10th Anniversary Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 5m 13.81s

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Selected odds by:

Present Fair^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 100| D

11/1

Back to his best when striking on return from a 2-month break at Bangor (19.6f, soft) in April. Hasn't always had a habit of following a good run with another, so it was encouraging to see him back that up with a solid second at Uttoxeter three weeks ago. Remains on a good mark and solid claims.

Form: 57431-2

Wee Alki^p,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Miss R L M Duffy⁽⁷⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 95| BF

11/2

Yet to get his head in front but largely consistent since switched to handicaps, going close over 3m+ at Kelso on his last 2 starts. Creeping up the weights as a consequence, but dropping back in trip unlikely to be an issue (went close over 19.3f at Carlisle in February) and he needs considering.

Form: 5243-22

Mayos Vendangeur^t⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Miss Megan Davies⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 94

12/1

Bits and pieces of decent form in Ireland, one of the better ones being her effort at Clonmel in December when second in 15-runner handicap at around 2m. However, she has failed to fire the last twice and stamina to prove on debut for new yard (once tried over 2¾m and didn't appear to get home).

Form: 632560-

Rickety Gate²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss Ella McGarry⁽⁷⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 93| D

22/1

Back to form when taking a 19f Carlisle handicap over Easter, but didn't offer much at Perth since and this 10-y-o has something of a patchy record.

Form: 84641-6

Nakassama³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr O McGill| T: N C Kelly| OR: 90

11/8

Placed on the Flat on several occasions and took a step forward on second handicap start in this sphere when third at Downpatrick during the autumn. Has failed to back that up by a long chalk in 2 subsequent outings, though, and others make more appeal. Yard also saddles Tiny Angel.

Form: 0803P-0

Beat The Retreat^t,v²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr Kit Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 89| D

18/1

Sharpened up by cheekpieces when winning Musselburgh handicap (19.8f, good to soft) in February. Same didn't work so well next 2 starts, but switch to a visor did the trick when going close at Perth last time and, provided this headgear continues to have a positive effect, he should be in the mix.

Form: 88175-2

Tread Softly Now^p²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr Stephen Connor⁽³⁾| T: I A Duncan| OR: 89

12/1

Has improved since the cheekpieces went on, scoring at Ayr and Kelso this year. However, her form has taken a turn for the worse since and she needs to bounce back.

Form: 19210-6

Tiny Angel^p1¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr D McGill⁽³⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 86

18/1

Nibbled at long odds when last of 11 in a Tramore handicap back from 8 months in April. Showed the benefit of that run when fourth of 9 at Downpatrick (21.8f, good) recently and this low-mileage mare could have a part to play if taking well to the first-time cheekpieces.

Form: P/5P60-4

Huit Reflets^v¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr Paddy Barlow⁽³⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 84| C

28/1

Positive start for this yard last year, placed several times (including over this C&D) prior to landing a 2m handicap here 12 months ago. Now 2 lb below that winning mark, but finds himself with a bit to prove following a trio of poor efforts.

Form: 21278-7

Suitably Surprised²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr James King| T: S England| OR: 84

16/1

Improver in handicaps during the autumn, landing a conditional jockeys' race at Sedgefield (17f, good) in November before following up at Leicester 4 days later. Has failed to fire both starts since returning from a break in April, though, and she's opposable on balance.

Form: 21129-5

Badbad Leroy Brown^t¹²

Age: 13| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr Cameron Hillhouse⁽⁷⁾| T: Sarah Hollinshead| OR: 83| D

33/1

Sole success under Rules was gained way back in 2017 and all 4 starts over fences in 2024 were poor. Runner-up twice between the flags in recent weeks, but this veteran is nonetheless opposable back in this sphere.

Form: P57P-22

Moveonbuy¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Miss Aimee Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: A Crook| OR: 81

80/1

Showed little in a trio of bumpers and it's all been pretty low-key in as many runs over hurdles in novice events. Step forward needed now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 89/664-4

Billable Grant¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Miss Emma J Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 81

15/2

Ended long losing run back over hurdles when landing an 11-runner handicap under this rider at Perth (23.9f, soft) in April, benefitting from the leaders pressing on a fair way from home. Wasn't beaten far at Kelso next time and he's a live each-way candidate.

Form: 47591-4

Dear Dot³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Miss Natasha Cookson⁽⁷⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 77

50/1

Didn't shown a great deal in a bumper nor 3 runs over hurdles in 2024. Also out of luck in a couple of runs in points since and she's another who will need to improve now venturning down the handicap route.

Form: 70564-5

Foxwood^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Miss Thomosina Eyston⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 77

16/1

Found his level from basement mark fitted with cheekpieces last year, but was tailed off when eventually falling at the last (without headgear) on his reappearance here (23.3f, good to soft) 28 days ago. Cheekpieces swiftly refitted, but he's probably worth taking on all the same.

Form: 53/735-F

Non-Runners

Blazing Court³¹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 7

T: J E Dixon J: Mr John Dixon

Forecasts

Nakassama (11/8), Wee Alki (11/2), Billable Grant (15/2), Blazing Court (10/1), Present Fair (11/1), Mayos Vendangeur (12/1), Tread Softly Now (12/1), Suitably Surprised (16/1), Foxwood (16/1), Tiny Angel (18/1), Beat The Retreat (18/1), Rickety Gate (22/1), Huit Reflets (28/1), Badbad Leroy Brown (33/1), Dear Dot (50/1), Moveonbuy (80/1)

The vote goes to top-weight PRESENT FAIR, who hasn't always been the easiest to catch right but arrives here in top form, on the back of a win at Bangor and an equally good effort in defeat when going close at Uttoxeter. The 8-y-o remains feasibly treated and gets the nod ahead of Wee Alki and Billable Grant. The former is second choice on the back of close-calls at Kelso the last twice. Tiny Angel, one of two Irish raiders from the Noel Kelly yard, is also worth a second look.