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Racecards

20:10 Hexham

Swinburne Horticultural Services Ltd Beginners' Chase

  • 8 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 110y
  • Going: Firm, Good to Firm in places
  • Surface: Turf
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 4m 3.50s
  • 8 Ran
1
Silk - Maroon, Light Blue chevron, Maroon sleeves, Light Blue stars, Light Blue cap
8/1
  • Form 7899-08
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 84

hampered and unseated rider start

2
Silk - Light Blue, Royal Blue epaulets
  • Form 45238-5
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 96

towards rear outpaced 4 out

3
Silk - Brown, Orange braces, Orange cap
  • Form 06723-3
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 105

held up in touch, headway 4 out, led last ridden out

4
Silk - GOLD, RED sash, sleeves and cap with GOLD hoop
28/1
  • Form PF23-33
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-0

hit 2nd, in touch until outpaced 4 out

5
Silk - Red, Yellow braces, White sleeves and cap
  • Form 1P156-3
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-0

tracked leaders, headway and every chance 3 out, effort after next, one pace flat

6
Silk - LIGHT BLUE, WHITE braces and armlets, RED cap

Gunson Hight

9 bt CD
66/1
  • Form 0/5P-PPP
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 65

whipped round start, took no part

7
Silk - Dark Blue and White stripes, hooped sleeves, check cap
  • Form 5384-35
  • Age 13
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 75

made most to 3 out, one pace next

8
Silk - Dark Blue, Yellow sash and sleeves, White cap
3/1
  • Form 5364-63
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-12
  • Official Rating 125

tracked leader, led 3 out, headed last kept on

In depth

Verdict

Humid Climate, Cumbrian Knight and Finest of Men all have claims in this beginners' chase but a chance is taken with Flame Phoenix, who is probably better than he showed on his chasing debut last time. The selection was easily the best of these over hurdles and was, not surprisingly outclassed behind the useful recruit Nyrche on his chase debut at Exeter recently. The opposition here should be less exacting for Ginger McCain's gelding, who may have most to fear from Humid Climate. Richard Fahey's gelding made a promising start to his chasing career when third behind Tigers Lair at Bangor over an extended 2m4f recently and should be suited by the drop in trip today. Cumbrian Knight has shown enough to suggest that he can win a race of this nature and has to be respected along with Finest of Men, who reverts to regulation fences after a long spell point-to-pointing. Snooty Eskimo and Classic Calvados are others worthy of a mention but the vote goes to Flame Phoenix, who may be too classy for his rivals.

Formwatch

Ballyboe Boy (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 8th of 13, 33l behind Risky Way (10-3) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Apr.

Classic Calvados (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, one pace when hit last, 5th of 23, 9l behind Mr Bigglesworth (11-1) at Wetherby 2m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd in Apr.

Cumbrian Knight (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Held up, headway 11th, chased winner 4 out to next, soon ridden and outpaced, 3rd of 7, well behind Mckelvey (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov chs (D) gd.

Finest of Men 5-4 (12-4) 3rd of 4, 6l behind Starbuck (12-4) at Hexham 3m ptp gf.

Flame Phoenix (USA) 7-2 (11-0) Chased leading pair, ridden and lost touch from 4 out, last of 3, well behind Nyrche (10-11) at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (E) hvy in Apr.

Gunson Hight 25-1 (12-7) pulled up in race won by Ofcoursehekhan (12-0) at Hexham 3m ptp gd, 9 ran.

Snooty Eskimo (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Behind, headway 9th, ridden after 3 out, kept on from next, 5th of 16, 5l behind Viscount Bankes (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hts chs (H) gf.

Humid Climate 25-1 (10-8) Held up, mistake 9th, poor 3rd when weakening from 10th, 3rd of 5, 22l behind Tigers Lair (11-6) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (D) gd.