Racecards
14:50 Hexham
Sis Novices' Hurdle (div 2) (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,500 added
- Form R54-607
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer Miss V Simpson
- Jockey Harry Haynes
led, ridden and headed approaching last, soon weakened
- Form 2232
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer J Ewart
- Jockey D C Costello
in touch, reminders 3rd, headway between last two, ridden last, kept on under pressure to lead flat
Didgery
386- Form PP/UP1P-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer B Mactaggart
- Jockey D J Condon
towards rear, struggling 3rd, behind when pulled up before 4th
- Form P0
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey K Mercer
towards rear, headway 2 out, effort approaching last, kept on same pace
- Form 64P
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey D F O'Regan
prominent, ridden and weakened approaching last
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer M A Barnes
- Jockey M J McAlister
towards rear, mistake 2nd, weakened quickly between last two
- Form FPP004
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey J M Maguire
prominent, led approaching last, headed an no extra flat
Five Wishes
32- Form 7
- Age 5
- Weight 10-6
- Trainer G A Harker
- Jockey R McGrath
mid-division, reminders 2nd, struggling from halfway
- Form 454-06
- Age 6
- Weight 10-6
- Trainer D W Whillans
- Jockey G Whillans
midfield, headway under pressure between last two, one pace approaching last
In depth
Verdict
James Ewart looks to have found a good opportunity for BEST LOVER here; the list of dangers is headed by Vasodilator and Leith Walk. The selection has been knocking at the door and he hasn't done a lot wrong on each of his four starts so far. He is versatile with regards to the ground and a reproduction of what he showed last time should be enough to see him get his head in front. Vasodilator ran his best race yet at Uttoxeter last time and he is entitled to come on for that as he was returning from a break. He will do well to beat our selection, but he looks the one most likely to chase him home. Leith Walk has shaped with some promise in her bumper runs but she lacked any fluency with her jumping on her hurdling debut last time and she may be best watched for now. Saturn Island could be interesting now that he races on quick ground for the first time, but Best Lover makes most appeal and gets the vote.
Formwatch
Balyan (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Led until headed 3 out, ridden and soon weakened, 7th of 16, 35l behind Touch of Irish (11-0) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Best Lover (FR) 9-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden after last, led final 75 yards, headed and no extra near finish, 2nd of 14, nk behind First Stream (11-0) at Kelso 2m 2f mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Didgery 20-1 (12-0) (ts) bhnd til pu 13, in a race won by Rockley Beach (12-0) at Cottenham 3m ptp in Mar '08, 11 ran.
Lap of Honour (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Always in rear, 11th of 16, 42l behind Sir Tantallus Hawk (11-3) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Saturn Island (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Sphinx (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Still Calm 8-1 (8-13) Jumped right at start and was always rear division, 9th of 11, 27l behind Pondapie (8-8) at Beverley 1m 4f sll stks (5) sft in Sep (flat).
Vasodilator (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway approaching 8th, weakening when not fluent 3 out, 4th of 9, 42l behind Ogee (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Five Wishes 22-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division and keen, no impression from 3 out, 7th of 12, 46l behind I'm Delilah (10-12) at Catterick 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Leith Walk (IRE) 80-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, lost place approaching 4 out, ridden approaching next, no impression when blundered 2 out, 6th of 14, 22l behind Don't Stop Me Now (10-3) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Uncle Michael 250-1 (10-12) Towards rear, some headway 4th, never dangerous, 14th of 16, well behind Smoke And Mirrors (10-12) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.