March 16 / 15.10 Hexham

15.10

Heavy

Malcolm Hopkinson Memorial Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4901.4
  • 2m 4f 28y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
SKY
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Malcolm Hopkinson Memorial Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain and snow

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.30
  • Place: £2.50

Form: 2322/5

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Three defeats on the spin as favourite in bumpers before missing the best part of two years; was entitled to have needed his recent hurdling debut, when shaping fairly, and enters the equation with that behind him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

17th May 2023

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 4

19:30 Perth

Fly By Milan

11st 6lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Off the mark over hurdles at just the second time of asking in 2m4f Hexham maiden in March; backed it up under a 7lb penalty with a solid second in 2m3f Carlisle novice the following month so this son of Milan needs considering now upped in trip on his handicap debut.

3/1

2nd

1

8th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

15:05 Carlisle

Fly By Milan

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Off the best part of two years before his hurdle debut fifth; all the sharper for that run when winning over 2m4f at Hexham (heavy) 23 days ago; more will be needed here but he did score pretty readily.

4/1

1st

1

16th Mar 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

15:10 Hexham

Fly By Milan

11st 7lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

in touch with leaders, pushed along and headway after 2 out, made strong challenge approaching last, led run-in, soon edged right, readily

6/1

OUR TIP

3/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 324 BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Easy to pick holes in his Newcastle second early in the year and he didn't build on that as favourite last time; yard going great guns lately but he needs to find more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

12th Feb 2024

Heavy

3m 1f 71y

Class 4

14:30 Catterick

Had To Be Hugo

11st 4lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Rebecca Menzies

raced in last

11/2

0

10

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

3m 3f 123y

Class 3

14:57 Market Rasen

Had To Be Hugo

10st 12lb

J: David Noonan

T: Rebecca Menzies

Lightly raced; well-beaten third on his chase debut at Kelso last month (2m7f) but then stayed on well for the same placing on his return there over hurdles (both runs in cheekpieces); looks a thorough stayer who might be helped by the new visor, but lack of chasing experience is a concern.

8/1

3rd

2

29th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

14:10 Kelso

Had To Be Hugo

11st 9lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

in touch with leaders, outpaced and dropped to rear after 3 out, rallied approaching last, kept on run-in, went third inside final 110yds

3/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 2

Last run: 80 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Picked up for £120,000 after winning an Irish maiden point (March 2019) before a long absence; made a pleasing comeback on Boxing Day and about sets the standard on that; claims are obvious.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

22nd Apr 2023

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

14:15 Bangor-on-Dee

Vandemere

11st 11lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: John Quinn

Irish point winner (good to yielding ground) who was placed on first two hurdling starts, more recently when third at Hexham (2m4f, heavy) last month; back on a less testing surface for today's handicap debut and open to significant improvement; high on the list.

4/1

3rd

9

16th Mar 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

15:10 Hexham

Vandemere

11st 7lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: John Quinn

prominent, led after 2 out, faced strong challenge approaching last, ridden and headed run-in, no extra when lost second towards finish

3/1

Form: 25

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Changed hands for £17,000 after an easy Irish point win in November and made a pleasing hurdles debut early in the year; pulled hard when out of his depth last time and this is more realistic.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

14:00 Newcastle

Shadows In The Sky

11st 12lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

10yo whose form has been mixed this season but he's edged back down the weights and his Newmarket yard is 3-6 here; capable of a big run.

10/1

1

17th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 4

16:25 Fakenham

Shadows In The Sky

11st 8lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Most consistent win or lose over either obstacle for this stable until finding a brush hurdle series final at Worcester all too much last time (2m4f, good); swimming in calmer waters again on this return to fences, albeit still above any class he's ever won in.

3/1

12

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:42 Worcester

Shadows In The Sky

11st 2lb

J: Nathan Howie

T: James Owen

Consistent over fences and hurdles for new stable this season, winning once under each discipline; suited by this C&D but may find less exposed rivals better handicapped today; swaps cheekpieces for refitted visor.

20/1

Form: F44

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Irish point runner-up who's shown enough over hurdles this winter to suggest he can be a factor back down in trip; goes on the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

15th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

14:30 Newcastle

Home Sweet Highway

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

led, soon went clear, mistake 11th, good jump 14th

13/8

1

15th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

14:30 Newcastle

Home Sweet Highway

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

This is much easier than the three 0-120 novice handicaps he's contested over fences so far, but mistakes have been as much the issue as race class, as was again the case at Carlisle latest; down 3lb more.

13/8

3rd

5

24th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 34y

Class 4

14:55 Carlisle

Home Sweet Highway

10st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Point runner-up (3m, soft) who won a handicap hurdle at Bangor (2m7f, good) in June; he's well treated on that form and things may click over fences at some stage, but there have been jumping errors and heavy defeats on his first two chase starts.

12/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
German Group 2/3 winner in 2020 who lost his way in France last year; some promise for his new yard, having been gelded, in a good-quality Polytrack handicap three weeks ago and is an interesting hurdling newcomer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

21st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 5

14:50 Musselburgh

Quian

11st 8lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Has been resurgent after wind surgery and he's won at Catterick (2m3f, soft/good to soft) in the last two of his three runs for current yard; up another 5lb but he scored with some authority last time and remains well treated on old form; key player.

2/1

1st

8

25th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 5

14:30 Catterick

Quian

11st 3lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Lizzie Quinlan

pressed leader, led 4th

5/2

1st

8

31st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 5

13:05 Catterick

Quian

10st 12lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

raced in second, not fluent 2 out, ridden and led after 2 out, edged left run-in, kept on well

11/2

Form: 0/PP

Last run: 103 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who's started big prices and been pulled up in two runs over hurdles for his current yard; remains best watched back from wind surgery.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

20th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

13:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Glenavaddra

10st 2lb

J: Edward Austin

T: George Bewley

Winning pointer just over two years ago; pulled up in both his chases and he's 29lb out of the handicap here; had wind surgery.

100/1

10

20th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

13:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Glenavaddra

10st 2lb

J: Edward Austin

T: George Bewley

Winning pointer just over two years ago; pulled up in both his chases and he's 29lb out of the handicap here; had wind surgery.

100/1

Form: /3626-

Last run: 614 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish maiden who was running over fences when last seen a couple of years ago; is fine with these conditions but is entitled to need this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

15th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Hell On Earth

10st 2lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Catch Bissett

Pulled up over fences on all three outings last year; showed some of his old zest when back over hurdles at Ayr (3m, good) last month but was on the retreat before falling at third-last flight; others preferred.

50/1

11

15th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Hell On Earth

10st 2lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Catch Bissett

Pulled up over fences on all three outings last year; showed some of his old zest when back over hurdles at Ayr (3m, good) last month but was on the retreat before falling at third-last flight; others preferred.

50/1

9

9th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 5

16:18 Ayr

Hell On Earth

10st 13lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: Catch Bissett

taken down early, mounted in chute

50/1

Form: 04

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten a long way in one bumper and one run over hurdles this year; remains best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

16th Mar 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

15:10 Hexham

Rue Galilee

11st 7lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Tim Easterby

in touch with leaders, struggling 3 out, weakened 2 out, tailed off when pulled up before last

50/1

4th

10

20th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

13:45 Carlisle

Rue Galilee

11st 3lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Tim Easterby

prominent, not fluent 3rd, dropped to midfield with one circuit to go

100/1

Form: 53

Last run: 80 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
French Flat winner (1m7f, very soft) who ran her best race for this yard when third at Wetherby around the turn of the year; today's stiffer track should suit and she holds each-way claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(2)

15th May 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 189y

Class 5

15:50 Catterick

Visite Officielle

8st 12lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Ex-French mare who was again beaten a fair way at Pontefract last time when having Vintage Valley behind over 2m5.6f; is on a competitive mark now though.

12/1

4th

6

(6)

24th Apr 2023

Good

2m 5f 139y

Class 6

16:10 Pontefract

Visite Officielle

9st 7lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Fair fourth over 2m2f here (good to soft) last October and now 4lb lower; however, she was well beaten by the first two when third at Redcar (2m, soft) a fortnight ago when fit from hurdling; others appeal more.

12/1

3rd

2

(2)

10th Apr 2023

Soft

1m 7f 217y

Class 6

15:26 Redcar

Visite Officielle

9st 9lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

1-23 in France and 0-7 in Britain; hurdling hasn't worked out (refused to race on penultimate appearance, tailed off latest) and her one piece of solid handicap form last season is not enough to persuade.

11/1

Non-runners

Hell On Earth

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £39.60
Straight Forecast £44.04
Trifecta £114.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Vandemere

D Express:

Had To Be Hugo

TOPSPEED:

Home Sweet Highway

Daily Mirror:

Had To Be Hugo

The Sun:

Had To Be Hugo

POSTDATA:

Home Sweet Highway

Telegraph:

Home Sweet Highway

RP Ratings:

Vandemere

The Times:

Vandemere

The Guardian:

Vandemere

Daily Mail:

Vandemere

The Star:

Vandemere

Daily Record:

Vandemere