The Northumberland National is without doubt the best race on the card at Hexham and this four-mile slog in the mud can go the way of top weight JAUNTY JOURNEY ahead of Tank Top with Garleton perhaps best of the rest. Our selection is another runner on the card from the in-form Nigel Twiston-Davies yard and comes here on the back of a game success in what looked a decent Chepstow beginners chase. That effort came on soft over 3 miles and whilst we can't be certain the up-and-coming chaser will stay the extra mile here, the signs are that he may well and if doing so this six-year-old will surely take the beating. Tom Molloy takes the ride this time with his 5lb claim doubtless being used to ease the welter burden and we fancy the young jockey to send Jaunty Journey to the front early on and never see another rival. Tank Top was last seen taking second behind a useful horse of Venetia Williams in the Mon Mome Handicap Chase at Cheltenham back in April, a performance which highlighted the staying prowess of Sam Thomas's mount. The horse does have a 7 month absence to overcome but with the Tom George yard going so well we don't anticipate fitness being too much of an issue and as such he rates the main danger to our selection as a horse who looks open to more improvement than most on ground that should be fine. Garleton represents the Sue Smith yard and this gelding has a healthy strike rate over fences after a win at this track last time. That effort was over a much shorter trip but the horse has previously won beyond 3 miles so todays trip shouldn't pose too much of a problem, a bigger concern being how Tjade Collier's mount acts on the predicted heavy going having shown its best form on livelier ground. As you'd expect with the prize money on offer there are plenty of others in with a shout, amongst whom the best may be Boris The Blade, a confirmed mudlark who looks up to winning a race off his mark of 114. Likewise Panama At Once should enjoy the conditions but this trip may be a step too far whilst Newman Des Plages is another in-form horse for whom the trip may be the biggest issue but we don't expect that to be a problem for Jaunty Journey and he rates the selection in a cracking contest.
Jaunty Journey 4-1 (10-13) Always prominent, led 9th, made rest, stayed on well flat, won at Chepstow 3m beg chs (4) sft in Oct beating Cannington Brook (11-4) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Minster Shadow 50-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, lost place approaching 6 out, 6th of 7, 48l behind Money Trix (11-10) at Carlisle 3m grad ch (2) sft.
Tank Top 10-3 (11-3) Led, not fluent 13th, mistake 20th, headed 4 out, regained lead 3 out, ridden when mistake 2 out, headed last, stayed on flat, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Zacharova (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Apr.
Newman Des Plages (FR) 9-1 (11-2) With leader, lost place 10th, headway approaching last, stayed on well to lead near finish, won at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft beating Mister Potter (11-8) by hd, 11 ran.
Boris The Blade 11-1 (11-12) Led to 1st, held up, reminders approaching 5th and again approaching 8th, chased winner when not fluent 3 out, kept on from last, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Fiftyfive Degrees (10-9) at Newcastle 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Mar.
Lucky Nellerie (FR) 13-1 (10-9) in a race won by Tiumen (10-9) at Pardubice(CZE) 4m 2f crs cntry chs (5yo+) gs in Oct, 26 ran.
Bay Cherry (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) In touch, chased winner 15th to before 3 out, soon ridden, left 5 lengths 2nd last, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Overlady (10-2) at Sedgefield 3m 3f mdn chs (4) sft in Jan.
Garleton (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 12th, ridden to lead before last, edged right flat, kept on, won at Hexham 2m 4f cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs beating Carrietau (11-7) by 4l, 12 ran.
Panama At Once 7-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, ridden and under pressure 3 out, soon beaten, 9th of 12, 39l behind Cinaman (10-3) at Carlisle 3m 1f am nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft.
Maidstone Mixture (FR) 150-1 (10-7) Led to 6th, tracked leaders, lost place 10th, last of 7, well behind Money Trix (11-10) at Carlisle 3m grad ch (2) sft.
Indy Mood 10-1 (10-4) Held up, chased leaders approaching 4 out, held in 4th when blundered last, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Treehouse (9-12) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
