Racecards
13:20 Hexham
Racecourse Membership An Ideal Xmas Present Mares' Novices' Hurdle (NHMOPS Bonus Race) (Class 4)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 48y
- Going: Soft (Heavy in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £7,400 added
- Winner: £4,809
- 2nd: £1,412
- 3rd: £706
- 4th: £353
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
chased leaders, effort after omitted 2 out, weakened before last
- Form 2271-2
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey B S Hughes
made virtually all, soon joined, ridden clear after last, ran on well
Drumochter
14- Form 54
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer S England
- Jockey Jonathan England
held up in rear, headway after omitted 2 out, soon chasing leaders, hit last, never a threat
- Form 3-104
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey Jamie Hamilton
pressed leader, ridden and weakened before last
- Form 82/2254-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer D W Whillans
- Jockey Callum Whillans
tracked leaders, took keen hold, driven into 2nd before omitted 2 out, kept on same pace
In depth
Verdict
Iconic Belle won four times on the Flat in the summer for Mick Channon and got off to a successful debut over timber at Musselburgh despite indifferent jumping. That was on good ground, as were her victories on the level, so today's conditions won't be in her favour. Derriana Spirit also made mistakes on her hurdling bow over 2m4f at Ayr where she was prominent until outstayed by the winner. She'll have come on for the experience but Drumochter looked one-paced over this trip at Wetherby. Madam Cloud, a winning point-to-pointer, may do better when tackling further but PAPER ROSES has the form for this and can defy a long absence. A head defeat in a Class 2 handicap at Carlisle last December is the stand-out form here and she ran well on her reappearance the previous month.
Formwatch
Iconic Belle 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, mistake and green 2nd, led 3 out, soon headed, rallied and every chance when mistake 2 out, led approaching when mistake last, soon challenged, stayed on gamely under pressure, won at Musselburgh 2m (4) gd in Nov beating West Coast Lass (11-0) by nk, 7 ran.
Derriana Spirit (IRE) 6-4fav (10-7) Chased leader, every chance 2 out, kept on same pace closing stages, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Highland Hunter (11-0) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn (5) hvy in Nov.
Drumochter 14-1 (10-5) In rear, ridden 4 out, headway 2 out, driven and stayed on towards finish, 4th of 9, 7 3/4l behind Imperial Acolyte (10-12) at Wetherby 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Madam Cloud (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) In touch, headway before 2 out, went 3rd before last until no extra towards finish, 4th of 11, 22 1/2l behind Stoney Rover (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f (4) sft in Nov.
Paper Roses (IRE) 13-8fav (11-2) Mid-division, chased leaders before 4th, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 11 1/4l behind Birch Vale (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) sft in Mar.