Racecards
15:55 Hexham
Tarmac Northern Novices' Hurdle (Class E) (Class _)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Form 66-24P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey Paul Moloney
pulled hard, tracked leaders, every chance when not fluent 2 out, chased winner between last 2, ridden and no impression from last
Gary's Pimpernel
161- Form 12/2235-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Mr T Greenall
tracked leader, smooth headway to lead between last 2, clear last, driven out, comfortably
- Form 0/0-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Jefferson
- Jockey F King
held up in touch, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
- Form 0-32
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey G Lee
set steady pace, quickened after 4th, ridden and headed between last 2, soon weakened, eased flat
- Age 9
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer I McMath
- Jockey Miss L Kendall
mistakes, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
In depth
Verdict
Gary's Pimpernel gets the call here ahead of Southbound. The Mick Easterby-trained selection is a bumper winner and has shown plenty of promise in two hurdle runs to date, more than enough to be competitive in what is, overall, a pretty weak race. We will take it on trust that he will be fit enough after a break to withstand the step up in trip on this stiff track to score today. If he isn't then Southbound looks the one that will take advantage. Placed in each of his last two runs, he will not lack for fitness on his hurdling debut and looks set to go well. Dead Man's Dante showed promise in bumpers but will have to put a poor course and distance hurdling debut behind him to feature today but he looks the best of the rest, the best of them looking to be Gary's Pimpernel.