Racecards
17:55 Hexham
Betfair Sponsors The Stable Staff Canteen Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Heavy, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,422
- 2nd: £998
- 3rd: £499
- Form 8-F5222
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer M M McNiff
- Jockey D R Fox
in touch, outpaced after 3 out, headway after next, soon chasing winner, never able to challenge, modest 2nd
- Form 213-785
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey Jonathan England
chased leaders, led 4th, strongly challenged 2 out, soon well clear, very easily
- Form P/85188-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 94
in touch, chased leaders 4 out, hit next, weakened 2 out, tailed off
- Form 38RP27
- Age 12
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer Mrs Dianne Sayer
- Jockey Jonathon Bewley
tracked leader, slow 1st, driven to challenge 2 out, soon under pressure, lost 2nd approaching last, rallied close home, modest 3rd
- Form 07-P764
- Age 15
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer S G West
- Jockey Mr Ryan Clark
led until 4th, weakened 4 out, moderate 4th
In depth
Verdict
This won't take much winning but veterans Front Rank and Amjad are probably worth opposing again while Whisky Galore keeps finding one too good yet continues to climb the weights. SWISS ART has won on soft ground so should handle conditions here and he was obviously in need of the run at Sedgefield last month. Sue Smith's six-year-old looks the one to beat, though Emirate Isle would probably go close if reproducing his best form following a lay-off.
Formwatch
Whisky Galore 3-1 (11-4) Mid-division, 6th halfway, headway into 2nd 2 out, ridden and no impression winner before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Mia's Vic (10-11) at Sligo 2m mdn hdl hvy in Aug.
Swiss Art (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, ridden before 3 out, soon lost place when outpaced, some headway from 2 out, never dangerous, 5th of 13, 20l behind Snooker (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gf in Sep.
Emirate Isle 10-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 10, well behind Stanley Bridge (10-13) at Wetherby 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Feb.
Front Rank (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) In touch, weakened 5th, tailed off from 3 out, 7th of 10, 30l behind Claude Carter (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Sep.
Amjad 50-1 (9-7) In touch, tracked leader after 3rd, lost place 3 out, behind after next, plugged on from last, 4th of 9, 20l behind Luccombe Chine (11-3) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Aug.