13:05 Hexham

Thursday 13 March 2025

All13:0513:4214:2215:0215:4216:2217:00

Welcome To Britain's Most Scenic Racecourse Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 4m 15.44s

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Selected odds by:

Moonlight Monarch²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 93

3/1

Bred more for the Flat but a good sort physically who shaped well when sixth of 13 on his handicap debut at Newcastle (17f, good to soft), putting in eye-catching late work after finding himself with plenty to do turning for home. Open to improvement.

Form: 2/556

Gone With The Tide^h²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: C O'Farrell| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 92

12/1

Irish point winner who showed a bit more when, equipped with a first-time tongue strap, finishing sixth of 10 on his handicap bow at Musselburgh (19.8f, good to soft). Eased 4 lb and this stiffer track should help, so he's in with an each-way shout.

Form: 51-58P6

Right Now^b1¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: P T Midgley| OR: 90

40/1

Shaped like a non-stayer when third in a handicap hurdle at Perth (20.2f, good to soft) in September but he has offered little in 2 subsequent starts, including on debut for new yard/first run following a wind op at Newcastle.

Form: 3783P9

Royal Deeside¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Theo Gillard| T: P Morris| OR: 90

25/1

Stepped up on his low-key chase debut when third off 11 at Market Rasen (17.2f, good to soft) on final start for Alan King. However, he hasn't shown much in 2 starts for present yard and while he resumes in this sphere on a good mark, others make more appeal.

Form: 536P35

Royal Creek⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 89| D

9/1

Made a winning debut in a Ballinrobe bumper for Edmond Kent back in 2022 and subsequently sold for £90,000. Little impact in trio of mares' novice events for present connections but improvement may well be forthcoming now that she's pitched into a handicap.

Form: 1/6P5

Dickens^h⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Phillip Armson⁽³⁾| T: A King| OR: 89

4/1

Dual Flat winner who was in the process of posting arguably his best effort yet over hurdles when falling 3 out at Uttoxeter (15.8f, heavy), travelling at least as well as anything else at the time of his departure. Major player off an unchanged mark.

Form: 853/4-5F

Fairly Fulling⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 87

28/1

Standout effort over hurdles (modest form) when fourth of 10 in a maiden here in November but he hasn't shown much in 2 subsequent starts, including on handicap debut at Newcastle.

Form: 790480

Rock N Roll Champ¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 87

40/1

Maiden in Irish points and very little to shout about under Rules thus far, pulled up on handicap debut at Newcastle (20.3f, good) 10 days ago.

Form: P66-86P

Larkfield Lusive⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Danny McMenamin| T: L Morgan| OR: 80

10/3

Modest maiden (0-15 in this sphere) who was still in with a chance when exiting at the business end of a 19f Warwick handicap hurdle last time. Place possibilities granted a clear round.

Form: 85567F

Am Still Here^p1²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 78

5/1

Lightly-raced maiden who nearly justified support when second to Tread Softly Now in 2m Ayr handicap on penultimate start. Best to draw a line through subsequent Newcastle display (no chance after almost falling 4 out) and he's one to consider here with first-time cheekpieces enlisted.

Form: 856-920

Chantilly Rose¹⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 74

25/1

No great shakes over hurdles and not much better in 2 starts over fences when trained by Dan Skelton. Fell heavily on sole start for Hugh Burns in October and has a bit to prove returning to smaller obstacles for another new yard.

Form: 067-43F

Away She Goes^p1¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Edward Austin⁽⁵⁾| T: Paul Robson| OR: 73

80/1

Failed to make an impact in 2 bumpers/3 starts over hurdles for Brian Ellison last year and has struggled since joining current connections. Hopes pinned on the first-time cheekpieces sparking improvement.

Form: 689P99

Flying Sandpiper¹³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Bruce Lynn| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 71WS

33/1

Has offered very little to this point and will need to take a big step forward following a break/wind op if he's to make an impact here.

Form: 7/0P8P-P

Non-Runners

Tread Softly Now²⁸

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: I A Duncan J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Moonlight Monarch (3/1), Larkfield Lusive (10/3), Dickens (4/1), Am Still Here (5/1), Royal Creek (9/1), Gone With The Tide (12/1), Tread Softly Now (20/1), Royal Deeside (25/1), Chantilly Rose (25/1), Fairly Fulling (28/1), Flying Sandpiper (33/1), Rock N Roll Champ (40/1), Right Now (40/1), Away She Goes (80/1)

Having caught the eye on his handicap debut at Newcastle, MOONLIGHT MONARCH could be the answer here with improvement on the cards. Dickens held every chance when exiting at the third-last at Uttoxeter and he will surely go close granted a clear round, while Am Still Here and handicap-debutante Royal Creek are others to consider.