June 12-14 Hexham and Sedgefield

HEXHAM – Saturday June 12th

Going – Good (Good to Soft in places)

3.05 2m ½f 0-114 Handicap Chase

ORMUS showed ability over hurdles but has struggled over fences. He showed that he still retains his ability when his jumping clicks and he stayed on well here after joining issue in the straight. He’s on a low mark compared with his hurdling best and there may be more in the locker.
STAGECOACH PEARL led two out and stayed on after being headed. This was a fair effort for his second over fences and this six-year-old looks likely to win handicap chases.
EMOTIVE plugged on late having struggled to match the leaders from halfway. This trip looks too sharp for him now.
WELL OILED was well held from two out and isn’t threatening to break his maiden tag.
HEAVENLY CHORUS often picks up late, but never got seriously involved on this occasion being outpaced form the bottom of the hill three out.
RED JESTER was ridden quite early on, rallied to four out but then dropped away.


4.10 2m 4½f 0-99 Handicap Chase

This wasn’t a brilliant race with many out of form.

Having looked very slow on his initial UK efforts TULLY HILL has at least shown a little zest in the last year, if lacking pace at the business end. Coming up against a bunch similarly lacking in finishing zip he had enough in hand to pick off his rivals on the flat, thus breaking his own and his trainer’s duck. His form at Hexham is well in advance of anything else he ahs shown.
HASPER has been running creditably in moderate handicaps and kept on for second, though never quite getting close enough to threaten a win.
GINGER’S LAD won at Sedgefield last time and looked to have a decent chance to follow up. He was thereabouts from a mile out but couldn’t raise his game enough in the straight.
THE GREEN HAT showed a good deal more than he had on his last outing, possibly finding handicap company easier. Having led at the ninth he had every chance approaching the last but could summon no extra.
DALLAS BELL was one paced from two out and looks held on current terms.
PANTHERS RUN won here in October but everything fell for him then and he’s generally not a betting proposition. He was struggling from the ninth fence here.
CLUELESS regressed, tailed off from the tenth, while MISCHIEF MAN fell away after belting the eighth and was pulled up, as was FLAMING HECK who took little interest.

BEAT THE SHOWER won the two mile handicap hurdle nicely off top weight and a mark of 107. He’s lightly raced and looks progressive.
FAIR SPIN won the 2m 4½f handicap hurdle with ease, beating three recent winners, and may be a step or two ahead of the handicapper.
NOBLE SCHOLAR upheld recent bumper form in the first leg of the NH Flat race. He battled well on the flat to beat AUPCHARLIE, making a promising debut and looking a future winner, with the remainder well held.
LOVEY DOVEY followed up a comfortable Perth win in the second heat and this point winner will be interesting once going hurdling. BE MY DEPUTY looks to have strengthened after a fifteen month break, staying on determinedly from the bottom of the hill and is one to keep an eye on.

SEDGEFIELD – Monday June 14th

Going – Good

The last fence was omitted as ‘ground under repair’ giving a very long run-in from the usual second last, the open ditch.

4.00 2m 4f 0-112 Handicap Chase

SOUBRIQUET bounced back to form having shown little of note in recent months. He raced prominently and stayed on to hold an in-form second.
GENERAL HARDI is in the groove right now and was closing on the winner at the line, well clear of the remainder. This was a very creditable effort given that he was dropping back in trip by a mile.
NILE MOON didn’t look comfortable for much of the way but plugged on from two out before running out of puff on the long run-in. He’s not bad on his day but does need things to fall his way.
BROADWAY STAR stayed on from the second last, looked likely to take third but weakened close home. This run offered just a glimmer of encouragement compared to his previous chasing efforts.
INDIANA GOLD took the lead four out and seemed to be going quite well, but he gave way tow out and weakened. He won in France last year and might have a chance of landing a race in time.
TOULOUSE EXPRESS has two ways of running and felt the pinch from four out.
BACK TO THE WIND was too keen early, weakened three out and was pulled up before the last.
KARELIAN jumped slowly, soon lost touch and was pulled up before the ninth.

4.30 2m ½ f 0-96 Handicap Chase

RUBY ISABEL followed up her Towcester win, staying on well form the last and rewarding Tim Vaughan who is never afraid to travel in search of opportunities.
TROODOS JET was a little disappointing at Cartmel but bounced back to form here, finding a progressive one too good. He’s normally in the mix in this company.
KING’S MAJESTY plugged on for third without threatening.
SCHINKEN OTTO was ridden four out and held from two out. Conditions were right here, but he needs a race where he can dictate terms.
Maiden jumper SKIDDAW JONES was held from three out, as was CROFTON ARCH who seemed a good deal happier round the quirky Cartmel circuit.
ANOTHER DARK RUM has regressed after showing some promise, finishing tailed off, and STAR TENOR was always in the rear.


MEETINGS MAN saw off LUCKY QUAY in the juvenile hurdle though his jumping was rather hairy once in front. The impression is that a fluent hurdler could see off both of these. The hurdle form looks below average at this meeting and there wasn’t much I would take forward.