Racecards
13:00 Hexham
Martin Bowler Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 4)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 15y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £8,400 added
- Winner: £3,812
- 2nd: £1,756
- 3rd: £878
- 4th: £440
- Form 316/118-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey Charlie Hammond
raced keenly, mistake 1st, tracked leaders, blundered and eventually unseated rider 13th
- Form 9/2471-9
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey S Mulqueen
tracked leaders early, hit 2nd, jumped slowly 4th and gradually dropped to rear, went right 11th, good headway chasing winner 3 out, pushed along turning in, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
- Form P/UP-52P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 117
tracked winner, pushed along briefly after 9th, lost 2nd and weakened before 3 out
- Form 6-U3163
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey D R Fox
tracked leaders on inside, plugged on in 3rd turning in, no chance with winner
- Form 534-632
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer I Jardine
- Jockey C O'Farrell
jumped well, made all, going best home turn, 3 lengths ahead last, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
Verdict
Grand Morning is 0-6 over fences but did finish second around here just under a year ago. Animore has placed here more recently but ON THE WILD SIDE has the potential to be better than these. A winner twice over hurdles at the track last autumn, he is returning from a lay-off but had wind surgery last month and his yard can get one ready at home. Methodtothemadness is preferred to Spider's Bite of the others.
Formwatch
On The Wild Side (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Chased leader, every chance when hit 2 out, soon ridden, weakened between last 2, mistake last, 8th of 12, 14 1/4l behind Flash The Steel (11-11) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Grand Morning 11-1 (10-11) In rear, big jump 1st and 2nd, well beaten 3 out, 9th of 11, 32 3/4l behind Dell' Arca (10-10) at Haydock 3m hcp (2) sft in May.
Spider's Bite (IRE) 3-1 (11-9) Prominent, led 3rd, headed 4 out, about 3 1/2 lengths down 3 out, saddle looked to slip and pulled up before 2 out, at Perth 3m hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Methodtothemadness (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Raced keenly, chased leaders on inside, hit 12th, pushed along turning in, chance early run-in, weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 3l behind No No Maestro (11-4) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Animore 15-8 (11-4) Chased winner who soon went clear, closer 2 out, almost upsides last, every chance run-in, found no extra towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind No No Maestro (11-4) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Aug.