June 21 / 15.13 Hexham

15.13

Good

Matfen Hall Hotel Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8713.65
  • 1m 7f 133y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Matfen Hall Hotel Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 4P-114 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Started off for Adam Nicol with two comfortable C&D wins last month (good to soft/good) and travelled strongly for a long way before failing to see out 2m4f here a fortnight ago; upped significantly in grade today but this drop back in trip is the obvious move, and he might still have more to offer for his new stable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

16th Sep 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

18:25 Kelso

Conquer The Breeze

11st 7lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Adam Nicol

Made it four wins from his five starts for this yard when scoring by 10l at Perth (2m, good) in July last time; on that evidence an 8lb rise may not be enough to stop him, provided he resumes where he left off following a two-month break.

10/11

1st

2

12th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:41 Perth

Conquer The Breeze

11st 12lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Adam Nicol

All four wins have been at Hexham and it was never in much doubt there three weeks ago (1m7f, good); hard to grumble with the 8lb rise but now has to continue his good work on a very different track, and he was a lot lower in the weights when second to Garde Des Champs in this 12 months ago.

6/4

10/1

  • Place: £4.60

Form: /441-5 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Weakened out of contention at Aintree last month but this race is a bit easier and he's now only 3lb higher than when keeping on well to beat Glory And Honour at Newcastle (2m4f, good) in April; also suited by 2m and might be aided by recent wind surgery; enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

20th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

18:36 Stratford

Parisencore

11st 3lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Gained both chase wins over 2m4f; bumped into progressive rival when second at Hexham (1m7f, good) two starts ago and travelled well until stamina ebbed away over 3m at Perth last month; remains on a workable mark; can make his presence felt.

6/1

5th

2

12th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:51 Perth

Parisencore

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Gained both chase wins over 2m4f (one here); no match for progressive rival when second at Hexham (1m7f, good; first run after wind surgery) last month but that was still a good effort; a possible if suited by this new trip.

6/1

2nd

1

21st Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 3

15:13 Hexham

Parisencore

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Weakened out of contention at Aintree last month but this race is a bit easier and he's now only 3lb higher than when keeping on well to beat Glory And Honour at Newcastle (2m4f, good) in April; also suited by 2m and might be aided by recent wind surgery; enters calculations.

10/1

Form: 971/P-

Last run: 211 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Seen only one since winning Sligo beginners' chase (2m1f, good) for Joseph O'Brien in October 2024, when pulled up in Haydock handicap for James Moffatt in November; tricky to weigh up on debut for latest new stable but was given a wind operation in January and market support will pique interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

21st Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 3

15:13 Hexham

Cossack Chach

11st 11lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Seen only one since winning Sligo beginners' chase (2m1f, good) for Joseph O'Brien in October 2024, when pulled up in Haydock handicap for James Moffatt in November; tricky to weigh up on debut for latest new stable but was given a wind operation in January and market support will pique interest.

25/1

1st

7

2nd Oct 2024

Good

2m 1f 120y

13:50 Sligo

Cossack Chach

11st 3lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Killarney maiden hurdle winner in July 2023; rated 127 in that sphere; mixed bag since and has finished well-beaten on both chase starts, over 2m4f at Kilbeggan and 23.5f at Killarney on latest; surely capable of better and the drop back in trip here should suit; gets weight from his rivals and has a chance if on a going day.

11/4

Form: 532-71 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 4lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Won this race off today's mark a year ago (good; first-time blinkers) and reverts to chasing after hard-fought hurdle win here (2m, good; refitted blinkers) a fortnight ago; obvious contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

9th Sep 2026

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 3

16:00 Sedgefield

Glory And Honour

11st 0lb

J: Rebecca Hitchen

T: Sam England

Won over Hexham's stiff 2m in June and only narrowly failed to get up over 2m1f here 12 days ago (under Rebecca Hitchen); stays this far and has a solid chance.

4/1

2nd

2

28th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

18:05 Sedgefield

Glory And Honour

12st 0lb

J: Rebecca Hitchen

T: Sam England

Hexham winner in June (2m, good); hasn't run quite as well since, though far from disgraced in a stronger race at Market Rasen last time (2m4f, good); a possible.

10/1

7th

1

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

17:15 Market Rasen

Glory And Honour

12st 1lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Sam England

Hard-fought win back over hurdles at Hexham (2m) before a 10l defeat returned to fences; no great significance in the return of cheekpieces (blinkered last two races) but entitled to have some say.

14/1

OUR TIP

100/30

Form: /612-3 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
2-3 in French bumpers and 2-8 in British hurdles; ran big race from the front when third of ten at Cartmel (2m1f, good) last month and could take some catching if she gets into a good rhythm on this chasing debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

29th Aug 2026

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 4

16:25 Cartmel

Kientzheim

11st 12lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Ben Haslam

Placed off 4lb higher in competitive handicap hurdle here (2m1f, good) in June, but weakened into fifth on chasing debut at Hexham in June and was pulled up in C&D race won by well-backed stablemate Passing Diamond last month; could still have a future over fences but has a point to prove.

5/1

3

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

16:12 Cartmel

Kientzheim

11st 1lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Ben Haslam

Slightly disappointing when weakening fifth on last month's chasing debut at Hexham but now 2lb lower than when close third over hurdles here in May and will be dangerous if able to transfer that form to fences.

11/4

5th

3

21st Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 3

15:13 Hexham

Kientzheim

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Ben Haslam

2-3 in French bumpers and 2-8 in British hurdles; ran big race from the front when third of ten at Cartmel (2m1f, good) last month and could take some catching if she gets into a good rhythm on this chasing debut.

100/30

Form: 472-32

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Just 1-10 over hurdles and yet fully to convince after three chasing starts; only third best on merit and no threat to winner when second at Bangor (2m4f, good) last month; others have more pressing claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

31st Aug 2026

Good

2m 3f 100y

16:29 Downpatrick

Herja

11st 5lb

J: Harry Sexton

T: Mrs P Griffin

Winning hurdler; made little impact over fences until finishing a fine third in a competitive 2m2f handicap chase at Galway; best form is on good ground so connections will not want to see a deluge.

3/1

2nd

14

28th Jul 2026

Good

2m 2f 54y

17:45 Galway

Herja

11st 4lb

J: Harry Sexton

T: Patrick Griffin

Winning hurdler yet to make much impression over the bigger obstacles; remote second at Bangor in May her best effort but soundly beaten at Hexham on latest; needs more.

20/1

6th

6

21st Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 3

15:13 Hexham

Herja

10st 9lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Patrick Griffin

Just 1-10 over hurdles and yet fully to convince after three chasing starts; only third best on merit and no threat to winner when second at Bangor (2m4f, good) last month; others have more pressing claims.

8/1

Form: 444-12 D BF

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Off the mark as a chaser at Newton Abbot (2m, good) last month, easily beating two rivals; raced too freely and succumbed to a stronger finisher when odds-on to follow up over hurdles there a week later but probably still has untapped potential over fences if he settles better here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 75y

Class 3

15:05 Newton Abbot

Cobblers Boy

11st 3lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

C&D winner in May and respectable second over hurdles the following month, but he was well beaten back over fences at Hexham (raced freely) last month and subsequently left Dan Skelton's stable for £5,000; retains chase potential but others are more persuasive.

10/1

7th

5

21st Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 3

15:13 Hexham

Cobblers Boy

11st 1lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Off the mark as a chaser at Newton Abbot (2m, good) last month, easily beating two rivals; raced too freely and succumbed to a stronger finisher when odds-on to follow up over hurdles there a week later but probably still has untapped potential over fences if he settles better here.

2/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £22.60
Straight Forecast £22.15
Trifecta £614.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Kientzheim

TOPSPEED:

Cobbler's Boy

RP RATINGS:

Conquer The Breeze

Daily Mirror:

Glory And Honour

The Times:

Kientzheim

D Express:

Kientzheim

The Sun:

Kientzheim

POSTDATA:

Cobbler's Boy

Telegraph:

Cobbler's Boy

Daily Record:

Cobbler's Boy

The Star:

Conquer The Breeze