Racecards
16:00 Hexham
Primary Websites Ltd Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in plcs back straight,G/Firm places last 2f)
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,252
- 2nd: £955
- 3rd: £478
- 4th: £238
- Form P2-42F4
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey B S Hughes
tracked leaders, fell 3 out
- Form 306119
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer J M Jefferson
- Jockey James Halliday
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, disputing 2nd when hit 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 254313
- Age 12
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer M Smith
- Jockey D F O'Regan
held up, in touch when brought down 3 out
- Form 94/P665
- Age 12
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer G A Charlton
- Jockey Mr A J Findlay
took keen hold, led after 2nd, headed after 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 014812
- Age 11
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer R Nixon
- Jockey Paul Gallagher
led until after 2nd, tracked leaders, outpaced after 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 0/0-532
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 105
held up, headway after 6th, led after 2 out, 3 lenghts up last, all out
- Form 4-54080
- Age 10
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer Mrs E Slack
- Jockey J P O'farrell
tracked leader until after 2nd, prominent, lost place after 6th, outpaced before 2 out, soon beaten
San Deng
42- Form 3U6713
- Age 9
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer Micky Hammond
- Jockey Joe Colliver
in touch, challenged after 2 out, 3 lenghts off winner last, stayed on flat, just held
In depth
Verdict
Bywell Beau looks a light of former days and fellow veteran Texas Holdem also looks vulnerable against younger opposition, though has been in decent form lately. The Magic Bishop was well beaten off his new mark at Market Rasen in February but there are possibilities about course specialist Kempski, who was second off this mark at Newcastle last month. San Deng won at Catterick in January before finding 3m2f too far on a return visit to the track the following month but this better ground could herald a return to winning ways for the once-useful DEGAS ART. Howard Johnson's eight-year-old hasn't scored since 2007 but hasn't been this well handicapped for a long time and his turn of foot could be decisive against this quality of opposition.
Formwatch
Degas Art (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden before 3 out, soon hampered, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 6, 32l behind Double Eagle (10-11) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb.
The Magic Bishop 13-2 (10-10) In touch main group, close up 6th, lost place after 3 out, soon weakened, behind when hit next, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Pegasus Prince (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Texas Holdem (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, soon under pressure, never able to challenge, 3rd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Charingworth (10-10) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Bywell Beau (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Led, jumped right 4th, headed 3 out, weakened run-in, 5th of 10, 16l behind King Mak (10-2) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Kempski 11-4 (11-5) Led, headed narrowly 5th, remained close up, led next, headed 4 out, every chance 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner before last, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Mister Pete (11-3) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.
Andreo Bambaleo 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along and weakened after 4 out, went poor 3rd after 2 out, left remote 2nd from last, 2nd of 8, 33l behind Rumble Of Thunder (11-0) at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Woody Valentine (USA) 22-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 10th of 12, well behind Hi Dancer (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
San Deng 12-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, headway 3 out, kept on before last, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Stagecoach Opal (11-0) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.