Racecards
13:50 Hexham
Weatherbys Bank Novices' Hurdle (Class E)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- Form 50-07
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer A C Whillans
- Jockey E Whillans
towards rear, never dangerous
- Form 2123
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Mr T Greenall
towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off and pulled up before last
- Form 0-3344
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer D R MacLeod
- Jockey P Aspell
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, no impession
- Form F0F-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey K Mercer
held up in touch, smooth headway to lead between last 2, comfortably
- Form 2-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey Miss R Davidson
raced keen, led 3rd, jumped right 5th and 6th, headed between last 2, soon weakened and pulled up before last
Nearly Never
56- Form 5
- Age 10
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey N Carter
in touch, weakened 2 out
Neidpath Castle
190- Form 95935-5
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer A C Whillans
- Jockey B P Harding
mid-division, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
- Form 6/8524-F
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer Mrs K Walton
- Jockey R McGrath
tracked leaders, weakened approaching last
The Connor Fella
113- Form 093-57
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer F P Murtagh
- Jockey D C Costello
towards rear, headway 2 out, stayed on approaching last
Unexplored (IRE)
278- Form F1-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey G Lee
held up in touch, headway to challenge between last 2, every chance last, one pace under pressure
- Form 09
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs S C Bradburne
- Jockey K Renwick
led 2nd to 3rd, remained prominent, weakened after 2 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
- Form 80-0P
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer J M Jefferson
- Jockey D O'Meara
led to 2nd, remained prominent, effort after 2 out, no extra approaching last
- Form 0R-73
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey P Buchanan
in touch, ridden after 2 out, no impression
In depth
Verdict
Unexplored gets the confident vote here with Bluecoat and Neidpath Castle raiting the main dangers. The selection looked an impressive sort when winning between the flags when last seen. He is sure to have been well schooled for this his hurdling debut and with his yard back amongst the winners he looks the one to be on. Bluecoat rates the main danger as he showed some ability in bumpers and looks sure to appreciate this longer trip. However he lacks the scope of the selection and for that reason he is opposed. Neidpath Castle is another worthy of respect on his best form but he has not progressed as expected and looks opposable on that basis. Neagh was second on his debut behind Seeyaa and is another that is sure to improve but he may just need the run while Nearly Never is from a shrewd yard and should be noted in the market but for the winner we return to Unexplored who is taken to win this before going on to better things.
Formwatch
Bluecoat (USA) 5-4fav (11-8) Led, ridden 3f out, headed over 2f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 2l behind Linda's Theatre (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 1f nhf (H) gf in Oct.
Chief Dan George (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, pushed along after 4 out, headway after next, ridden and kept on one paced from 2 out, 4th of 16, 19l behind Rasharrow (10-12) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (E) gs in Oct.
Neagh (FR) 7-4fav (10-0) Mid-division field, headway third and in touch, every chance approaching 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 14, 5l behind Seeyaaj (11-7) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (E) gd in Feb.
Nearly Never 20-1 (10-5) In touch, ridden 6th, weakened 3 out, soon tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind Cantgeton (11-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Sept.
Neidpath Castle 12-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and kept on one pace from next, 5th of 19, 18l behind Romany Prince (11-0) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (C) gs in Apr.
Roman Rebel 5-1 (11-6) Held up, in touch when fell at the 2nd in race won by Red Perk (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 7f cnd nov hcp hdl (E) sft in Oct, 8 ran.
Unexplored (IRE) (12-0) Made most, ran on strongly, won at Carrigtwohill 3m ire ptp gd in Jan beating Minella Lodge (12-0) by a hd, 12 ran.
August Rose (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, outpaced approaching 2 out, rallied approaching last, kept on one pace flat, 3rd of 12, 7l behind United Spirit (11-3) at Hexham 2m mrs nov hdl (E) gf in Oct.