Racecards
13:10 Hexham
John Smiths Maiden Hurdle (Div 2) (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 48y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,249
- 2nd: £954
- 3rd: £477
- 4th: £238
Black Art
232- Form 83-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey Danny Cook
held up mid-division, headway after 2 out, led before last, headed run-in, no extra
- Form 7-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer G Boanas
- Jockey B S Hughes
in rear, headway before last, led run-in, kept on well
- Form 89-67
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
led, headed after 1st, ridden before last, no extra
- Form 223
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey W T Kennedy
with leader, led after 1st, headed before last, no extra run-in
- Form 6-8
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer G Bewley
- Jockey Jonathon Bewley
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, never dangerous, tailed off
- Form P-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey D R Fox
held up towards rear, effort before last, never dangerous
- Form 3-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N W Alexander
- Jockey Lucy Alexander
tracked leaders and keen, weakened before last
War Joey (IRE)
146- Form 0-75
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs A Hamilton
- Jockey Jamie Hamilton
tracked leaders and keen, weakened after 2 out, pulled up
- Form 7P334P-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer V Thompson
- Jockey Alex Chadwick
held up towards rear, weakened after 2 out, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
Handy Hollow probably sets the standard on his third at Worcester but it is not a particularly high one. Black Art, Silk Or Scarlet and Crixus's Escape have all hinted at ability in bumpers and are worth a market check but WAR JOEY might be capable of better than he's shown so far. He never threatened behind Enzani here in June but the other runners finished in a bit of a heap and he should be a working man's price.
Formwatch
Black Art 14-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led after 3f, hard driven over 3f out, headed 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 5, 10 1/4l behind Dessinateur (10-7) at Chepstow 2m (6) sft in Mar.
Crixus's Escape (IRE) 5-1 (10-7) Mid-division, pushed along halfway, outpace over 3f out, 7th of 12, 15 1/4l behind Kelpies Myth (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m (6) gd in Mar.
Diamant de L'Ouest (FR) 50-1 (11-0) Not fluent 1st, tracked leaders, lost place before 4 out, soon behind, no danger after, 7th of 9, 29 1/2l behind Demon D'aunou (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Handy Hollow (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden before 2 out, kept on and just held for 2nd close home, 3rd of 6, 21l behind Sword Of Fate (11-4) at Worcester 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Lawtop Legend (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Raced wide, held up, headway on outside chasing leaders 5f out, weakened 3f out, last of 8, 27 3/4l behind Theatre Legend (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (6) gs in Oct.
Prince Dundee (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Alw in rr, cto aftr 1/2 way, detd & pu 5out, at Courtown 3m mdn gs in Apr.
Silk Or Scarlet (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Led, pushed along over 3f out, headed over 2f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Schiaparannie (10-5) at Hexham 2m (6) gd in Apr.
War Joey (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, outpaced 2 out, no chance with clear leaders, last of 5, 22 1/4l behind Enzani (11-5) at Hexham 2m (3) gd in Jun.
Dolly's Dot (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 6th, pulled up before next, at Carlisle 2m 3f (4) gd in Apr.