14:50 Hexham

Tuesday 25 March 2025

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:25

Racing To School Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 15.0s

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Selected odds by:

Bridge Court^t⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 103

16/1

Didn't show much on Rules debut in a bumper on sole start for Mike Smith last term but left that low-key effort behind when making the frame on first 2 starts over hurdles for new yard in October/November. However, it was alarming how quickly he weakened out of content on handicap bow last time.

Form: 9/20-43P

Bollin Neil^p,t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr William Easterby⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 99

11/1

Returned to form from out of the blue when landing an 11-runner handicap under William Easterby at Catterick (25.3f, good to soft) last month. Remains on a fair mark up 5 lb and surely won't be far away, provided that this drop back in trip doesn't count against him.

Form: 512/0P1

Aquitaine Boy⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 98| D

6/1

Just held on to land a 10-runner handicap at Newcastle (20.3f, good to soft) in January and by no means disgraced when chasing home runaway winner Punxsutawney Phil over the same C&D last month. Place possibilities here off a 1 lb lower mark.

Form: F/16182

Maillot Blanc^t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Bruce Lynn| T: N W Alexander| OR: 97| D

9/1

Seems to be in a lull at present, failing to get back on track tried in cheekpieces (omitted here) following a wind op at Ayr recently. Would be a big player off this reduced mark if staging a revival but there is no real reason to anticipate an imminent return to form.

Form: 5-73755

Forest Blaze²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 95| CD

11/4

Opened account over C&D in December and backed it up with a good third of 16 at Wetherby (19.7f, heavy) the following month. Below par upped to 25.3f in the Catterick handicap won by Bollin Neil last time but he'll be a serious player if he puts his best foot forward back in trip here.

Form: 593137

It's Dan^t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: R M Smith| OR: 95

12/1

Didn't shape badly in a Kelso novice back from 20 months off in December and, though safely held switched to handicaps next 2 starts, he recently performed creditably following a wind op when runner-up off 1 lb higher at Ayr (2m, heavy). One to consider now moving back up in trip.

Form: 25/6582

Coral Blue^t³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny McMenamin| T: D Bourke| OR: 94| D

10/1

Winless for best par of 2 years but has gradually got back on track in his 3 appearances since returning from a break in January, finding just one too good at Musselburgh (19.8f, good to soft) last month. Live each-way contender.

Form: 5P-4042

Santa Clarita¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 92| D

16/1

Ran best race for current yard when good second of 18 in a handicap hurdle at Ayr (20.4f, soft) in January. Poor next time and while his latest fifth off at the same course wasn't a bad effort, it was below the level of what will likely be required to emerge on top here.

Form: 5282P5

Tan Law²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Ross Chapman| T: W Coltherd| OR: 87

10/3

Lightly-raced maiden who seemed not to stay when fourth of 12 in 27f handicap hurdle at Sedgefield last month. Step back in right direction dropped to 19.6f when third at Bangor next time and, effectively 4 lb lower in the weights here, he has to enter calculations.

Form: 063043

Rock N Roll Champ¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 86

14/1

Maiden in Irish points and thought yet to trouble the judge following 5 runs under Rules, he did show more spark when fourth in the 13-runner handicap won by Dickens here (16.2f, good to soft) 12 days ago. This step back up in trip looks a good move but he needs to raise his game another notch.

Form: 66-86P4

Forecasts

Forest Blaze (11/4), Tan Law (10/3), Aquitaine Boy (6/1), Maillot Blanc (9/1), Coral Blue (10/1), Bollin Neil (11/1), It's Dan (12/1), Rock N Roll Champ (14/1), Bridge Court (16/1), Santa Clarita (16/1)

FOREST BLAZE failed to fire when only seventh behind Bollin Neil at Catterick but he was in good heart prior to that and may well bounce back now returned to the scene of his breakthrough success in December. Bollin Neil remains nicely treated following a 5 lb rise for that success and should be in the mix but bigger threats over this trip may be posed by It's Dan and Tan Law, both of whom took steps back in the right direction last time.