Racecards
17:50 Hexham
Discover Northumberland Handicap Hurdle (Class 5)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 48y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £8,320 added
- Winner: £4,484
- 2nd: £1,317
- 3rd: £658
- 4th: £350
- Form 1/6498-7
- Age 8
- Weight 12-1
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Theo Gillard
chased leaders, under pressure after 3 out, weakened next
- Form 45/P406-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer Micky Hammond
- Jockey Alain Cawley
led until 4 out, rallied and every chance after next, weakened approaching last
- Form 6055-P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer D Bourke
- Jockey Steven Fox
held up in rear, beaten 3 out
- Form V22454-
- Age 13
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer J Ewart
- Jockey B S Hughes
chased leaders, outpaced when hit 4 out, and 3 out, rallied approaching last, kept on, never a threat
- Form 407667-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer Mrs L B Normile
- Jockey Grant Cockburn
mid-division, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, driven into 2nd soon after last, stayed on strongly to lead close home
- Form P/31526-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer B Butterworth
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
always behind, beaten 3 out
Fading Icon
96- Form 6638P2-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer P A Kirby
- Jockey Tom Midgley
behind, not fluent 2nd, never dangerous
- Form 0U056/3-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer Mrs Dianne Sayer
- Jockey Danny McMenamin
prominent, led 4 out, hard driven after 2 out, strongly challenged final 100 yards, headed and no extra near finish
- Form 004128-
- Age 10
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer Mrs A C Hamilton
- Jockey Callum Bewley
tracked leaders, lost place after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up after 2 out
- Form P054P/U
- Age 9
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer S England
- Jockey David England
keen in mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leader next, mistake last, no extra flat
Verdict
Quite a few of these return from a considerable break so caution is advised. Sleep In Frst is one such contender but he's 13 now and may need this, with course and distance winner, Cherry Princess, also returning form nearly 250 days absent. She's leading player if ready first time back but FADING ICON is preferred on her first run for Philip Kirby after shaping pretty well when last seen in February - her best run to date. Her pilot is inexperienced but claims the maximum 10lb and she's the only one in the field possibly open to major improvement. Frightened Rabbit has been off for over a year but would be interesting if market vibes prove positive.
Formwatch
The Character (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) Mistake 1st, tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 4th, behind from 3 out, no danger after, 7th of 11, 22 1/2l behind Golden Town (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in May.
Valgor Du Ronceray (FR) 28-1 (11-0) Led to before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 21 3/4l behind Farmer Boy (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Paddy Melia (IRE) 50-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, weakened quickly after 4 out, pulled up before next, at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Sleep In First (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, held up in 4th after 3rd, lost place after 5 out, outpaced next, stayed on to regain 4th near finish, no impression, 4th of 6, 4 1/4l behind Halcyon Days (11-7) at Carlisle 2m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Sense Of Urgency (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 15, 32 1/4l behind Oromo (10-11) at Perth 2m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Cherry Princess 12-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, outpaced after 2 out, modest headway before last, no impression, 6th of 9, 12l behind Strong Team (11-0) at Hexham 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Fading Icon 20-1 (10-0) Chased leaders on inside, 2nd approaching 3 out, led 2 out, joined last, hung right run-in, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Ted Bach (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Frightened Rabbit (USA) 11-2 (10-11) Held up behind, headway before 2 out, went 3rd before last, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Rory's Valentine (10-0) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in May.
Towerburn (IRE) 11-4 (10-9) Led to after 3rd, remained in touch, driven and weakened after 2 out, 8th of 9, dist behind Dontdelay (10-10) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Windy Writer (IRE) 2-1 (12-5) (tt) chsd wnr til ur 7, at Heslaker 3m gd in May.