Racecards
13:00 Hexham
Annual Membership Perfect Christmas Gift Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 28y
- Going: Heavy (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £6,800 added
- Winner: £4,419
- 2nd: £1,297
- 3rd: £649
- 4th: £324
- Form 110-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey Blair Campbell
tracked leaders, headway into 2nd after 2 out, soon poised to challenge, led last, clear when edged left flat, ridden out, ran on
- Form 3-73U21
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer K Scott
- Jockey S Mulqueen
tracked leader, disputed lead after 6th, led 2 out, soon driven and hard pressed, headed last, ridden and no impression with winner flat
- Form 2-1P
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer C Grant
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
led, joined after 5th, headed and reminders after next, soon lost place, weakened before 2 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
- Form 6/PP2P-3
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer D Bourke
- Jockey Henry Brooke
mistake 1st, tracked leaders, disputed lead after 5th, led narrowly after next, headed 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
- Form 4/3
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer G Boanas
- Jockey Joe Williamson
held up in touch on outside, pushed along before 2 out, never threatened leaders
- Form 21-P0U9
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Micky Hammond
- Jockey Joe Colliver
in touch, lost place and struggling after 6th, soon weakened, tailed off
- Form 443
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R Menzies
- Jockey C O'Farrell
held up in rear, headway 2 out, went 3rd before last, ridden and kept on same pace flat, no impression with front pair
- Form 1-64
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey B S Hughes
held up in touch on inside, tracked leaders after 6th, driven and outpaced by front pair after 2 out, beaten when lost 3rd before last
Verdict
Beaten just once in four career starts, HIGHLAND HUNTER had the proverbial ton in hand on his first run over timber at Ayr and will take all the beating here with further progress expected. Stoney Rover made it third-time lucky over hurdles over course and distance last month but probably has more on his plate today. Weakfield was let down by his jumping at Doncaster but should have learned from that and Cloghouge Boy defied big odds to finish third here last week and is entitled to come on for the run.
Formwatch
Highland Hunter (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Prominent, lost place 3rd, rallied before 3 out, led after next, stayed on strongly, won at Ayr 2m 4f mdn (5) hvy in Nov beating Derriana Spirit (10-7) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Stoney Rover (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, ridden before last, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Hexham 2m 4f (4) sft in Nov beating Hill Sixteen (10-12) by 3l, 11 ran.
Barfly 28-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, lost place 7th, soon struggling and behind, tailed off when pulled up before 9th, at Newcastle 2m 6f (4) gs in Dec.
Carry On Scorpion (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Mid-div, 4th 1/2way, clsr in 3rd aftr 4out & 2nd when mstk 3out, no impr bef 2out, drpd 3rd bef last, 3rd of 7, 22l behind Glorious Boru (11-11) at Ballindenisk 3m mdn gs in May.
Cloghouge Boy (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Held up, headway approaching omitted 2 out, kept on well under pressure, never a threat, 3rd of 8, 10 1/2l behind Know The Score (11-0) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Nine O Three (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) In rear, pushed along after 4th, tailed off 4 out, 9th of 10, dist behind Nadaitak (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 5f (4) gd in Nov.
Toi Storey (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Towards rear, outpaced from 3 out, plugged on before last, no impression, 3rd of 11, 22l behind Stoney Rover (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f (4) sft in Nov.
Weakfield (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on to take 4th place towards finish, 4th of 10, 23l behind Nadaitak (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 5f (4) gd in Nov.