March 30 / 15.20 Hexham

15.20

Heavy

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  • Prize money: £8343.98
  • 3m 0f 41y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £2.90

Form: -16547 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Won on reappearance at Carlisle (3m2f, soft) last October and has posted some fair efforts since; failed to stay 4m1f in the Eider at Newcastle last month and might not be far away now back down in trip and in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

26th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 6f 121y

Class 3

14:05 Perth

Houston Texas

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Nicky Richards

Won 3m/3m2f handicaps on testing ground last year but has been struggling of late and cheekpieces didn't work wonders for him last time; no headgear here but others have more pressing claims.

10/1

5/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 432313 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Won at Doncaster (3m, good) in January and fair third there (3m, good) since; no match for the winner Twoshotsoftequila in that race but enjoys a 7lb pull for just under 9l; won on soft/heavy earlier in career and he's a contender if conditions suit (tends to be kept to better ground nowadays).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

30th Nov 2024

Good

3m 2f 1y

Class 4

14:37 Doncaster

Taste The Fear

11st 11lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

disputed lead early, slow jump 1st, soon in touch with leaders, mistake 5th, dropped to rear before 7th, some headway and went fourth before 4 out, switched right and went modest third before 3 out, no impression

6/1

3rd

1

30th Nov 2024

Good

3m 2f 1y

Class 4

14:37 Doncaster

Taste The Fear

11st 11lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

disputed lead early, slow jump 1st, soon in touch with leaders, mistake 5th, dropped to rear before 7th, some headway and went fourth before 4 out, switched right and went modest third before 3 out, no impression

6/1

4th

6

2nd Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:08 Wetherby

Taste The Fear

11st 11lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Well beaten over hurdles at Worcester in September but was returning from a 104-day break and chasing is his game nowadays; won two in a row over fences at Southwell (3m, good) in the spring and he's a strong contender if back on song today.

6/1

Form: 21647F

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
2lb lower than when winning at Kelso (3m2f, soft) last November and he's not ruled out, but he was below par on his next three starts prior to an early fall in first-time cheekpieces (retained) here a fortnight ago; needs to get back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 7f 199y

Class 4

15:02 Hexham

Camp Belan

11st 3lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Lucinda Russell

Has won over 3m2f on soft at Kelso; sound reappearance run when third at Ayr in October (3m, good to soft); rather disappointing since; fell in this race two years ago; has a bit to prove.

12/1

11th

1

3rd Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:00 Carlisle

Camp Belan

12st 0lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Chase record is 2-22; regressive this season but this drop back to Class 5 may prompt a turnaround; won at Ayr on last attempt in this grade.

10/1

11th

1

3rd Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:00 Carlisle

Camp Belan

12st 0lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Chase record is 2-22; regressive this season but this drop back to Class 5 may prompt a turnaround; won at Ayr on last attempt in this grade.

10/1

Form: -44321 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Improved for the step up in trip when a comfortable winner at Doncaster (3m, good) four weeks ago; a 7lb rise could prove lenient and he showed promise on soft ground earlier this season (unraced on heavy).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:55 Ayr

Twoshotsoftequila

11st 4lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won two small-field chases (3m1f/2m7f) about two years ago but was pulled up last month, after a long absence, and might need another run or two before he's of interest again.

14/1

5

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

13:28 Haydock

Twoshotsoftequila

11st 6lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

On the up when last seen out in the spring of 2024, bagging a pair of handicap chases (around 3m) at Catterick and Newcastle; has a 23-month absence to overcome here but yard is among the winners so he's no forlorn hope.

10/1

Form: 2-5PPB D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 2lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
He's on a reduced mark and had wind surgery prior to being brought down at the fourth fence here a fortnight ago; however, he was pulled up twice in a row prior to the wind op and this 12yo has plenty to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

30th Mar 2023

Heavy

3m 0f 41y

Class 4

15:20 Hexham

Donnas Delight

11st 2lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

He's on a reduced mark and had wind surgery prior to being brought down at the fourth fence here a fortnight ago; however, he was pulled up twice in a row prior to the wind op and this 12yo has plenty to prove.

14/1

5

16th Mar 2023

Heavy

3m 7f 199y

Class 4

15:50 Hexham

Donnas Delight

11st 7lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

Very strong claims on the form of his all-the-way deep-ground Ayr wins of three years ago, but twice pulled up in December when last seen and a big response to further wind surgery is required.

25/1

8

29th Dec 2022

Heavy

3m 2f 39y

Class 4

11:53 Kelso

Donnas Delight

11st 4lb

J: Mr Zac Baker

T: Sandy Thomson

Won twice on soft ground, including over 3m3f, at Ayr in January/March 2020, but was then off for 672 days; hasn't recaptured his best form since; plenty to prove.

16/1

Form: 621025 C

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Inconsistent sort who was well beaten at Sedgefield two weeks ago and it's hard to be confident on the back of that; however, he won at Wetherby (3m, soft) in December and was a good second at Carlisle (3m, soft) two starts ago, and he's capable of a bold show if he's in the right mood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

4th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

15:05 Southwell

Aire Valley Lad

12st 6lb

J: Mr Gary Derwin

T: J J M Winston

prominent, bumped and squeezed out 1st, lost position gradually after 6th, dropped to last and pushed along 10th

50/1

8th

3

5th Feb 2024

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:07 Carlisle

Aire Valley Lad

11st 12lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Sue Smith

bumped start

14/1

10

13th Jan 2024

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

15:25 Wetherby

Aire Valley Lad

10st 6lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Sue Smith

Well backed when reverting to fences at Newcastle (2m7f, soft) in November and bounced back to form with a win; his inconsistent profile is a concern but he remains well treated back up 5lb and has won over C&D.

7/1

Form: 656047 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
5lb lower than when fair sixth of 20 at Cheltenham (3m1f, good) last October and represents respected Irish yard; however, he hasn't been at his best on his last three starts and the testing conditions could be a negative; needs to raise his game in a first-time tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

27th Apr 2023

Yielding To Soft

4m 2f 0y

16:50 Punchestown

Nick Lost

11st 7lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: John C McConnell

Fair chaser who was at his best in 2018 when winning twice on good ground for Henry de Bromhead on good ground; soundly beaten in two races over this course this season; stiff task now having been pulled-up at Hexham four weeks ago.

20/1

4

30th Mar 2023

Heavy

3m 0f 41y

Class 4

15:20 Hexham

Nick Lost

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: John C McConnell

5lb lower than when fair sixth of 20 at Cheltenham (3m1f, good) last October and represents respected Irish yard; however, he hasn't been at his best on his last three starts and the testing conditions could be a negative; needs to raise his game in a first-time tongue-tie.

13/2

Form: 235623 CD

Last run: 2 days

W: 10st 5lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
C&D winner who has run okay in defeat over C&D (heavy) the last twice, most recently with a 16l third of five on Tuesday; however, she needs something extra if she's to come out on top today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

7th Mar 2025

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

17:10 Ayr

Gipsy Lee Rose

11st 11lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Has won two of her last three races, both at Carlisle, over 3m2f in December (soft) and over 2m5f last month (soft); has gone up 9lb (4lb for latest win); should go well again although best efforts on stiff tracks (yet to win in four tries here).

7/4

Non-runners

Gipsy Lee Rose

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £35.80
Straight Forecast £31.67
Tricast £108.28
Trifecta £102.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Twoshotsoftequila

TOPSPEED:

Taste The Fear

The Star:

Camp Belan

Telegraph:

Houston Texas

THE NORTH:

Aire Valley Lad

The Guardian:

Nick Lost

RP Ratings:

Twoshotsoftequila

The Times:

Twoshotsoftequila

Daily Mail:

Twoshotsoftequila

D Express:

Twoshotsoftequila

Daily Mirror:

Twoshotsoftequila

Daily Record:

Twoshotsoftequila

POSTDATA:

Taste The Fear