Racecards
19:20 Hexham
Denis Atkinson 73rd Birthday Novices' Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 15y
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £15,100 added
- Winner: £7,461
- 2nd: £3,437
- 3rd: £1,718
- 4th: £860

Bluefortytwo
537- Form 843176/
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer P Winks
- Jockey Alison Clarke
in rear, became detached from 5 out, tailed off

- Form 11313/7-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer M Walford
- Jockey B S Hughes
prominent, led narrowly from 2 out, shaken up approaching final fence, soon ridden, kept on well flat, headed final strides

- Form 512467-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer G Bewley
- Jockey Jonathon Bewley
led, headed when driven along 2 out, kept on one pace from final fence

- Form 5P3329-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer M A Barnes
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
mid-division, ridden when headway on outer approaching final fence, soon every chance, ran on, not pace to challenge

- Form 7/P1480-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer Jamie Snowden
- Jockey G Sheehan
tracked leaders, shaken up when slightly outpaced and reminders from 3 out, ridden and headway in between horses approaching final fence, stayed on strongly final 150yds, led final strides
In depth
Verdict
FLOATING ROCK has 14lb to find with Stoney Mountain on hurdle ratings and was very disappointing at Ayr four weeks ago but he could make a better chaser. Jamie Snowden’s charge won a Class 2 handicap over timber at Newbury last season but previous efforts over fences have left much to be desired and he is likely to start at restrictive odds. None of the remaining trio make much appeal.
Formwatch
Bluefortytwo 9-2 (11-2) Midfield, restrained towards rear 8th, ridden before 4 out, one pace from 3 out, 6th of 10, 12 3/4l behind Ard Chros (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Floating Rock (GER) 3-1 (11-12) Midfield, hit 4 out and squeezed, pushed after 3 out and faded, soon beaten, 7th of 10, 30 1/2l behind Getareason (11-7) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Lovely Moon (IRE) 22-1 (10-9) Pressed winner, ridden after 3 out, lost 2nd next, weakened before last, 7th of 14, 26 3/4l behind Romeo Brown (11-4) at Kelso 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Saint Arvans (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Midfield, chased leaders after 3rd, reminder after 5th, pushed along over 3 out and soon weakened, 9th of 12, dist behind Travail D'Orfevre (11-1) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Stoney Mountain (IRE) 125-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, bad mistake 7th, pushed along before 2 out where not fluent, soon weakened, 17th of 22, dist behind Third Wind (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (1) sft in Mar.