Racecards
14:30 Hexham
Visit Hadrian's Wall Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £5,800 added
- Winner: £3,769
- 2nd: £1,107
- 3rd: £553
- 4th: £277
- Form 1/0740-2
- Age 12
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer R Ford
- Jockey Lucy Alexander
mid-division, took keen hold, not fluent 9th, went 5th 2 out, no impression
- Form 342283
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey Grant Cockburn
held up, not fluent 1st or 7th, headway approaching 9th, ridden before 3 out, no impression, stayed on same pace flat
- Form 0/P640-2
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer Mrs T Gibson
- Jockey P Buchanan
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake 5th, soon behind, tailed off 9th, pulled before last
- Form 709/324
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 112
tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed 9th, ridden before 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner
- Form 3F2111
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer J Ewart
- Jockey B S Hughes
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, 3 lengths down when left in lead next, clear before last, easily
- Form P54146
- Age 10
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer J Walton
- Jockey Miss C Walton
held up in rear, headway approaching 9th, mistake and lost place 3 out, well beaten after
- Form 3-64552
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer J Ewart
- Jockey James Smith
led after 1st, headed 3rd, reminder after 7th, ridden before 2 out, no extra flat
- Form P65225
- Age 11
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer W Coltherd
- Jockey D F O'Regan
led until after 1st, tracked leaders, lost place before 9th, well held from 3 out
- Form 3P4953
- Age 9
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey Tony Kelly
prominent, led 9th, 3 lengths up when ran out 2 out
- Form P22F13/
- Age 10
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey P Buchanan
Nonrunner
Verdict
The change in the ground could make things interesting for punters but one contender in the opener who has clearly relished the move to quicker conditions is the vastly-improved SLEEP IN FIRST, who arrives in search of the four-timer. He has risen a massive 26lb for three wins but never looked in any danger last time when completing the hat-trick at Carlisle and will surely prove hard to beat here. Stable companion Vosges, in contrast, has gone very much the other way in the weights but could well be competitive now off a career-low mark of 98. As a six-year-old he also has time very much on his side. Twentypoundluck is a respected Irish raider and the consistent Kai Broon completes the shortlist.
Formwatch
Calculaite 25-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, chased leaders under pressure on inside 4 out, ridden next, stayed on to go 2nd flat, no impression, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Tempting Paradise (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Kai Broon (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Mid-division, pushed along before 7th, headway 3 out, ridden before 2 out, went 3rd from last, kept on, 3rd of 8, 23l behind Jack The Gent (11-12) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Gold Cygnet (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Mid-division, chased leaders before 6th, went 2nd from 5 out, led before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Diamond Frontier (11-3) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.
Twentypoundluck (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden before 3 out, one pace, 4th of 9, 12l behind Quite The Man (11-12) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Sleep In First (FR) 4-7fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 8th, led last, stayed on well, easily, won at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd beating Prince Tam (10-6) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Saddle Pack (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) In rear, headway before 3 out, chasing leaders when blundered badly last, no extra run-in, 6th of 10, 7l behind Diamond Frontier (11-3) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.
Vosges (FR) 11-4 (11-2) Led, headed 4 out, rallied 2 out, left in 2nd after last, kept on, 2nd of 5, 6l behind The Fox's Decree (10-9) at Catterick 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Overlaw 8-1 (11-7) Led, headed after 4th, led again 6th, headed 4 out, outpaced when hampered and left 3rd next, weakened and lost place before last, 5th of 12, 34l behind Sleep In First (11-7) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
Gavroche Gaugain (FR) 12-1 (10-13) Tracked leader until ridden 10th, keeping on one pace when left 3rd at last, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Sleep In First (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Mar.
Against The Wind 3-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden and headed next, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind You Know Yourself (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar '11.