April 13 / 16.30 Hexham

16.30

Good To Soft

Happy Retirement Maurice & Anne Barnes Handicap Hurdle (Div II)

  • Prize money: £4805.71
  • 2m 4f 28y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
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Happy Retirement Maurice & Anne Barnes Handicap Hurdle (Div II)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: U03331 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Five races for his new trainer and back on track, following three third places with a tenacious C&D win (soft) under Charlie Maggs in 14-runner race 19 days ago; back up 4lb but one to consider seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

11

9th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

17:42 Hexham

Gardener

10st 6lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Bidding for a C&D hat-trick having won here on last two starts (soft/good); has gone up 9lb but has run well off much higher marks in the past; could go well.

6/1

1st

3

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

Gardener

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Five races for his new trainer and back on track, following three third places with a tenacious C&D win (soft) under Charlie Maggs in 14-runner race 19 days ago; back up 4lb but one to consider seriously.

100/30

1st

4

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:11 Hexham

Gardener

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Ended his time with Olly Murphy under a cloud but back on track for his new handler and he posted a solid third of eight in 2m3f handicap at Catterick last month; considered from an easing mark.

9/1

20/1

  • Place: £5.70

Form: 0-4057

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
One bit of ability (in cheekpieces) from four starts in Ireland; another in the first (2m4f, soft) of two handicap runs for this stable, which still demands big overall improvement but cheekpieces are now restored.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:50 Hexham

My Boy Christy

11st 1lb

J: William Maggs

T: Ewan Whillans

Went close to shedding the maiden tag when runner-up over 2m4f here and backed that up with another solid second over C&D 17 days ago; only 1lb higher and the booking of William Maggs catches the eye, so he looks a leading contender.

3/1

2nd

15

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

20:15 Hexham

My Boy Christy

10st 9lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Ewan Whillans

Ex-Irish; unexposed hurdler who put up a career best when runner-up in a 2m4f handicap here last time (good); this longer trip should suit; a possible.

12/1

2nd

9

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

My Boy Christy

10st 7lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Ewan Whillans

One bit of ability (in cheekpieces) from four starts in Ireland; another in the first (2m4f, soft) of two handicap runs for this stable, which still demands big overall improvement but cheekpieces are now restored.

20/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: -23715 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Off the mark at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) in January; inconsistent, however, and she was tailed off when tried over 3m at Doncaster on latest outing, despite the stamina in her family; connections turn to 7lb claimer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

Highbury Hill

11st 10lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Nigel Hawke

Off the mark at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) in January; inconsistent, however, and she was tailed off when tried over 3m at Doncaster on latest outing, despite the stamina in her family; connections turn to 7lb claimer.

8/1

5th

2

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 5

15:57 Doncaster

Highbury Hill

11st 10lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Nigel Hawke

Third of 16 at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft) in November on second handicap start and bounced back from lesser run to win at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) last month; has also shown promise elsewhere; her useful dam stayed 3m and is related to stayers and she could have more to offer now up in trip.

9/1

1st

5

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

13:00 Chepstow

Highbury Hill

11st 12lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Nigel Hawke

Two good efforts in the autumn included a close third of 11 finishers to Crossbeau over C&D (good to soft) but she finished remote at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft; has acted on that surface) in December; needs to return to earlier level.

12/1

Form: -PP3P5 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Filly

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
No win since May 2023 but, following wind surgery, she's not been far away in two of her last three starts; the latest was her fifth of 14 to Gardener over C&D; place chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

Our Laura B

11st 5lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

No win since May 2023 but, following wind surgery, she's not been far away in two of her last three starts; the latest was her fifth of 14 to Gardener over C&D; place chance.

11/2

5th

6

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:11 Hexham

Our Laura B

11st 7lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

On a long losing sequence and she was pulled up in 2m4f handicap hurdle at Newcastle 32 days ago; she's not easy to make a case for.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 223578

Last run: 24 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Runner-up twice under Gregor Walkingshaw in the autumn, including over C&D; however, no impact in his three handicaps; now 4lb lower than his opening mark, Walkingshaw (also on board penultimate start) returns and headgear enlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

Kool Raoul

12st 0lb

J: Gregor Walkingshaw

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Runner-up twice under Gregor Walkingshaw in the autumn, including over C&D; however, no impact in his three handicaps; now 4lb lower than his opening mark, Walkingshaw (also on board penultimate start) returns and headgear enlisted.

13/2

8th

7

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 2

15:55 Musselburgh

Kool Raoul

10st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

He needs to produce more than he managed in January in his first two handicaps, but his stable was just 1-62 with jumpers that month; his yard is in much better form now and he showed promise in novice/maiden hurdles towards the end of last year; interesting contender.

16/1

7th

5

29th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

13:43 Ayr

Kool Raoul

11st 1lb

J: Gregor Walkingshaw

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Seven-race maiden but he finished placed in his first three runs over hurdles (2m/2m4f) and may have had stamina issues when upped to 3m on recent handicap debut at Musselburgh; still has potential and he's a possible improver back at this trip.

11/1

Form: F54P54 C

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
1-39 over hurdles, the win gained here (2m, good) last May; inconsistent and although he stays 2m4f and latest start was one of his better days, today's position 7lb out of the handicap makes things tough.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

Blended Stealth

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Lizzie Quinlan

1-39 over hurdles, the win gained here (2m, good) last May; inconsistent and although he stays 2m4f and latest start was one of his better days, today's position 7lb out of the handicap makes things tough.

25/1

4th

10

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 5

14:23 Carlisle

Blended Stealth

10st 5lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Lizzie Quinlan

1-38 over hurdles, the win gained at Hexham (2m, good) last May; his good days have become infrequent, though, and he's 3lb out of the weights today; not the percentage call.

25/1

5th

7

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

14:50 Musselburgh

Blended Stealth

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Runner-up at Sedgefield in November and not disgraced on penultimate start, but those are the only bright spots in his last nine races; reverts from chasing (last five starts); overall he's won just one (a hurdle race last May) of 47 and today he is 3lb out of the handicap.

16/1

Form: 764

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Dead-heated for first in an Irish maiden point last April (3m, good); beaten at least 20l in her three hurdle races, all at about 2m4f, and needs big improvement but handicap debut means she requires a second look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

Tantivy Vavoom

11st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Ruth Jefferson

Dead-heated for first in an Irish maiden point last April (3m, good); beaten at least 20l in her three hurdle races, all at about 2m4f, and needs big improvement but handicap debut means she requires a second look.

9/2

4th

13

3rd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

15:05 Newcastle

Tantivy Vavoom

10st 12lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ruth Jefferson

Dead-heated in a maiden point last April (3m, good); modest efforts under rules so far; others stronger.

66/1

6th

16

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

13:25 Newcastle

Tantivy Vavoom

11st 3lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Ruth Jefferson

Dead-heated for first on debut in Irish mares' maiden point (3m, good) last April; however, pulled up next time and tailed off at 50-1 on hurdle debut at Sedgefield (2m4f, soft) in November; major turnaround required.

50/1

Form: 45254P

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Four-time point winner who's been thereabouts in a couple of his handicaps this season, most recently when second at Wetherby (2m4f, soft) on Boxing Day; not so good on his next two outings and ran poorly in a maiden on latest, so needs to stop the rot.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

Wise Move

11st 2lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

Four-time point winner who's been thereabouts in a couple of his handicaps this season, most recently when second at Wetherby (2m4f, soft) on Boxing Day; not so good on his next two outings and ran poorly in a maiden on latest, so needs to stop the rot.

10/1

8

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

14:11 Hexham

Wise Move

11st 7lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

Four-time point winner who has run some good races in defeat in handicaps this season and was stretched by 3m last time; he's 0-11 under rules and exposed but is in with an each-way shout this afternoon.

12/1

4th

7

10th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:35 Ayr

Wise Move

11st 3lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

No wins in ten over hurdles but nearly put that right on Boxing Day (2m3f, soft) and didn't run too badly at Catterick having been hassled up front; probably stays this far.

10/1

Form: 131126 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 13lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
In cracking form this season, with three wins and a second, until however he went down by 25l at Bangor (good) on latest start; maybe the ground that day was not soft enough; major player if bouncing straight back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

Eric Carmen

10st 13lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Gary Hanmer

In cracking form this season, with three wins and a second, until however he went down by 25l at Bangor (good) on latest start; maybe the ground that day was not soft enough; major player if bouncing straight back.

13/2

6th

10

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

16:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Eric Carmen

10st 12lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Gary Hanmer

A lot more exposed than many in here but he's been in cracking form since returning from an absence and his defeat at Leicester was no backward step (2m4f, good to soft); firmly in the mix.

3/1

2nd

3

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 25y

Class 5

15:00 Leicester

Eric Carmen

11st 9lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Gary Hanmer

Has thrived since returning from a break in December, winning two of his three runs over hurdles before adding a third win of the season reverting to fences at Market Rasen (2m3f, soft) last month, each time under Benjamin Macey; he's up 4lb for last time but is very much a leading contender in current form.

5/4

Non-runners

Be The Difference

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £92.00
Straight Forecast £89.14
Tricast £430.90
Trifecta £360.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Gardener

POSTDATA:

Our Laura B

RP RATINGS:

Kool Raoul

The Star:

Tantivy Vavoom

Daily Mirror:

Kool Raoul

The Times:

Our Laura B

The Guardian:

Our Laura B

D Express:

Our Laura B

TOPSPEED:

Gardener

Telegraph:

Gardener

Daily Mail:

Gardener

The Sun:

Gardener

Daily Record:

Gardener