June 17 / 17.30 Hexham

17.30

Good

Michael Foster Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4568.06
  • 2m 0f 48y
  • Class 5
  • 12 runners
SKY
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Michael Foster Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

OUR TIP

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 84P-11 C

Last run: 8 days

W: 12st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Returned from break with two clearcut wins in blinkers at Market Rasen (both 2m, good) this month; evidently back in prime form, and promising 7lb claimer Dylan Johnston is enlisted to reduce his welter burden here; obvious contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 149y

Class 4

15:08 Newcastle

Belvedere Blast

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Several flights were omitted when winning at Market Rasen (2m7f, good; visor refitted) but consistent in the main and perhaps needs further than the 2m4f he ran over last time; not ruled out.

6/1

10/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 8048-5

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Yet to be placed after six runs for Iain Jardine this year but some positives can be taken from last month's Newcastle fifth (2m1f, good), and he continues to slip down the weights; tongue-tie fitted today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

16th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 5

15:30 Musselburgh

Minella Youngy

11st 1lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

pressed leader, led 4 out, ridden and faced challenge from 2 out, clear with one other inside final 110yds, kept on well

6/1

4th

6

5th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

15:05 Sedgefield

Minella Youngy

11st 1lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

midfield

8/1

4th

6

5th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

15:05 Sedgefield

Minella Youngy

11st 1lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

midfield

8/1

16/1

  • Place: £4.70

Form: /0538-

Last run: 276 days

W: 10st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
19-race maiden; not seen since third in a Flat seller in October and her record over hurdles is not compelling; tailed off when today's headgear combination was tried in 2021; others look much safer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

6th Oct 2024

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

16:25 Kelso

Nastasiya

10st 8lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Went close at Perth (2m4f, good) in August 2023 and is now 2lb lower, but she hasn't threatened on her last three runs and is now 0-26.

7/1

4th

8

26th Sep 2024

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:45 Perth

Nastasiya

10st 5lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

25-race maiden across both codes but she's often run well over hurdles (went very close over 2m4f here in August 2023) and she's shaped this season as though she'll be well suited by today's first crack at 3m.

7/1

5th

10

27th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

16:22 Stratford

Nastasiya

11st 2lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Safely held on the Flat last month and now 0-24 under all codes but finished well for third over hurdles on stable debut at Market Rasen (2m4f, good) in May and has travelled from Scotland for this race; one to consider.

6/1

Form: F47-53

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
A maiden after 12 hurdles starts and competes from 4lb out of the weights today but ran big race when third of 16 here (2m4f, good) a fortnight ago and ought to cope with today's drop back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15

6th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

17:20 Uttoxeter

Bushmill Boy

10st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

0-23 over hurdles but went very close on stable debut here (2m4f, soft) in July and also ran well when third (albeit well held) at Fontwell (2m5f, good) in August; drops back in trip with cheekpieces refitted here; no surprise if he comes good for Olly Murphy soon.

6/1

3rd

6

30th Aug 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

18:45 Fontwell

Bushmill Boy

10st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

0-22 over hurdles but very nearly made a winning stable debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) six weeks ago and will be fine on the forecast faster ground here; one to consider.

4/1

2nd

13

17th Jul 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

17:45 Uttoxeter

Bushmill Boy

10st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

0-23 but surely has a race in him, and did record a respectable C&D third (soft) last November; wind surgery since claimed for £6,000 from David Thompson and starts life for Olly Murphy back on a career-low mark.

7/2

Form: 1265P-

Last run: 263 days

W: 10st 12lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Won over hurdles for Fergal O'Brien a year ago but was sold for £4,000 after running poorly in a chase in October and today's stable debut comes after a 263-day layoff; not the percentage call.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

17th Jun 2023

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

17:30 Hexham

Jessica Rabbit

10st 12lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Susan Corbett

Won over hurdles for Fergal O'Brien a year ago but was sold for £4,000 after running poorly in a chase in October and today's stable debut comes after a 263-day layoff; not the percentage call.

16/1

6

27th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Jessica Rabbit

11st 5lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Susan Corbett

2-29 over hurdles, with latest win last June over 2m4f off 4lb lower; pulled up on chase debut in September and this is her first run since sold out of Fergal O'Brien's for £4,000 in October; not the percentage call.

20/1

2

27th Sep 2022

Good

2m 5f 28y

Class 5

14:10 Sedgefield

Jessica Rabbit

11st 11lb

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Fergal O’Brien

held up in rear, pecked on landing 9th, pushed along before 2 out, mistake 2 out, soon outpaced and beaten, pulled up approaching last

3/1

Form: 4533-7

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Just a respectable seventh at Cartmel (2m6f, good) last month and career strike-rate now stands at 1-54 but his only previous run in cheekpieces was a creditable third at Sedgefield (2m1f, heavy) in April, and he's 2lb lower here; fine on good ground; considered each-way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

13:15 Stratford

Coup De Gold

10st 9lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Evan Williams

Made the frame twice in the spring (2m4f/2m5f) but was well beaten at Cartmel three months ago with no obvious excuse; just two wins from 45 attempts over hurdles and he's fully exposed.

10/1

8

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

14:42 Cartmel

Coup De Gold

10st 9lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Evan Williams

Has very modest 2-44 strike-rate over hurdles but made the frame on both starts in the spring (2m4f/2m5f) and is suited by this C&D; won't mind what the weather does; probably won't be far away.

6/1

Form: /627-5

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Showed only minor promise in her three qualifying runs over hurdles (2m-2m4f) but her bumper form offers hope she can take a step forward on today's handicap debut; market may guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

9th Sep 2024

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

15:15 Newton Abbot

Sunshine Girl

10st 5lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Max Young

Won over hurdles for an Irish stable last summer (3m, good to soft) but has lost her way; well beaten on both starts for Max Young, the latter her chasing debut in May; cheekpieces tried here.

40/1

5th

7

27th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

16:25 Huntingdon

Sunshine Girl

10st 3lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Max Young

in touch with leaders, lost ground quickly before 2 out, tailed off before last

25/1

Form: 5572-1 CD

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 3lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Five-time hurdle winner, most recently over C&D (good) last month; subsequent 5lb rise is probably enough to leave this 11yo vulnerable but at least we know he's in good nick.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

26th May 2025

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

14:55 Cartmel

Pateen

11st 5lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Jessica Bedi

Took this 12 months ago but this veteran has been off the track since finishing 12th in 2m4f Ayr handicap seven months ago; he has gone well fresh though so still needs considering.

25/1

9

26th May 2025

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

14:55 Cartmel

Pateen

11st 5lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Jessica Bedi

Took this 12 months ago but this veteran has been off the track since finishing 12th in 2m4f Ayr handicap seven months ago; he has gone well fresh though so still needs considering.

25/1

12th

4

28th Oct 2024

Good

2m 3f 110y

Class 5

14:20 Ayr

Pateen

11st 7lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Jessica Bedi

in rear, mistake 1st

11/1

Form: /789-P

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Pulled up when 50-1 for recent handicap debut at Market Rasen (2m, good; race won by Belvedere Blast) and effectively 1lb higher from out of the weights here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

17th Jun 2023

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

17:30 Hexham

Iheardupainthouses

10st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Paula Smith

Pulled up when 50-1 for recent handicap debut at Market Rasen (2m, good; race won by Belvedere Blast) and effectively 1lb higher from out of the weights here.

50/1

6

1st Jun 2023

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

18:40 Market Rasen

Iheardupainthouses

10st 3lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Paula Smith

in touch with leaders, not fluent 3rd, not fluent 5th

16/1

9

14th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

17:35 Sedgefield

Iheardupainthouses

10st 6lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Paula Smith

Fair effort on debut in a bumper when trained by Gordon Elliott 12 months ago; third in an Irish point last October; beaten a long way in all three starts for this trainer.

50/1

Form: 9/6P-P

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
19-race maiden; struggled to get competitive in a chase here six weeks ago, his only run for Paul Robson, and is 10lb out of the weights for today's stable debut; doesn't appear to have much going for him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

10

11th Sep 2023

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:40 Perth

Abouttimeyoutoldme

10st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Stuart Coltherd

Exposed maiden over hurdles who makes no particular appeal from 3lb out of the handicap.

33/1

10th

11

17th Jun 2023

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

17:30 Hexham

Abouttimeyoutoldme

10st 2lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Stuart Coltherd

19-race maiden; struggled to get competitive in a chase here six weeks ago, his only run for Paul Robson, and is 10lb out of the weights for today's stable debut; doesn't appear to have much going for him.

25/1

11

6th May 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:40 Hexham

Abouttimeyoutoldme

10st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Paul Robson

Unplaced all 13 hurdling starts for the Whillanses, pulled up when last seen a year ago; needs a big step forward on chase/stable debut.

25/1

Form: 4/3-

Last run: 206 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful Flat-racer who displayed minor promise in two slow-ground hurdles last year and landed a good prize when back on the Flat in April; could be on a very good mark for today's handicap hurdle debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

16

(2)

13th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 4

17:15 York

Lightening Company

8st 10lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Ben Haslam

Form figures of 5075 at this meeting in the last four years; one win a season had previously appeared his quota but he's already exceeded that in 2026, having scored at Pontefract (1m4f/1m2f) on last two outings; that demands some respect but this race is a higher grade.

10/1

1st

2

(2)

29th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 5y

Class 5

16:33 Pontefract

Lightening Company

9st 8lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Ben Haslam

Four-time Flat winner, including C&D, who has been all or nothing since scoring over hurdles at Cartmel in July; three AW no-shows followed good second over C&D (soft; 40-1) in October but market support predicted a going day when scoring here (1m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago; might not want the ground to get too quick but otherwise a key player under 2lb nudge.

5/4

1st

5

(4)

7th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 5y

Class 5

16:27 Pontefract

Lightening Company

9st 6lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Ben Haslam

Now 5lb lower than when second here (1m2f, soft) last October but did not emerge from the rear division when a big-priced outsider for all three subsequent AW runs; considered only if much strong in betting today.

9/1

Form: 9P0-7P

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Had some excuses and was not disgraced when seventh at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) last month but struggled when dropped back to 2m1f for weak selling handicap three weeks later; 12lb wrong here; blinkers added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

17th Jun 2023

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

17:30 Hexham

Diamant Sur Canape

10st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: Ewan Whillans

Had some excuses and was not disgraced when seventh at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) last month but struggled when dropped back to 2m1f for weak selling handicap three weeks later; 12lb wrong here; blinkers added.

33/1

11

31st May 2023

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

18:50 Cartmel

Diamant Sur Canape

10st 3lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ewan Whillans

Unplaced all six hurdling starts but had some excuses and wasn't beaten that far on recent handicap debut at Kelso (2m5f); not out of this if suited by the drop back in trip; hood removed.

12/1

13

23rd May 2023

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

20:50 Hexham

Diamant Sur Canape

10st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ewan Whillans

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.00
Straight Forecast £13.28
Tricast £268.87
Trifecta £293.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Lightening Company

RP RATINGS:

Belvedere Blast

Daily Mail:

Minella Youngy

D Express:

Sunshine Girl

TOPSPEED:

Coup De Gold

Telegraph:

Jessica Rabbit

The Guardian:

Pateen

The Times:

Lightening Company

Daily Mirror:

Lightening Company

POSTDATA:

Belvedere Blast

The Star:

Belvedere Blast

Daily Record:

Belvedere Blast