Hexham on a damp October Saturday

Hexham – Saturday October 8th

Good (rain during meeting)

The opening two mile novices’ chase was won in decent style by L’ELDORADO, pulling away up the hill. It’s worth noting that this one probably doesn’t want to be over raced and goes well after a break.
QUITE THE MAN didn’t jump fluently and was a tad disappointing in third place, and I got the impression the up and downhill didn’t suit him.

THE MAGIC BISHOP won the Class 4 handicap chase in decent style, making up a lot of ground from the bottom of the hill and winning cosily. No reason why he shouldn’t win another chase on this evidence.
FRED BOJANGALS ran a darned sight better than he had done at Carlisle the previous day, staying on from two out to take second place. He has won off his current mark of 112.
Newcomer EMPEROR CHARLIE jumped poorly in the rear and was well beaten by four out.

FILL THE POWER only beat four in the maiden hurdle but did so very easily. There has been encouragement in all his outings and his should make a chaser in time, but a novice handicap hurdle may be within his compass.
MOMKINZAIN jumped with no fluency and was held from two out. He has ability to make a mark over jumps, but needs to sharpen his hurdling.

CLOUDY DAWN won the staying handicap chase with something to spare, but it was a very poor event, the well exposed TOULOUSE EXPRESS filling second and STORMION in third jumping with little fluency. DESERTMORE STAR was well beaten in fourth and this four-time pointing winner did nothing to justify some market confidence. At 10 years old he’s going to struggle to adjust to this sphere.

Lucinda Russell has a fair collection of young bumper horses this autumn and filled the first two places in the closing event run in descending murk. ROWDY ROCHER looks a type to be going forward with and the win here was very encouraging. He has winning hurdlers and chasers amongst his family and, having already won an point in Ireland, has the makings of an interesting jumps prospect. The four-year-old filly LOVE FROM VERONA has shown enough in three efforts in the frame to suggest she can win a race or two. The strong form of her Perth races further boosts confidence in the winner.