March 22 / 16.30 Hexham

16.30

Heavy

Follow Hexham Racecourse On Facebook Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 4f 15y
  • Class 5
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Follow Hexham Racecourse On Facebook Handicap Chase

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

25/1 (Won)

  • Win: £23.00
  • Place: £5.90

Form: 23-647

Last run: 44 days

W: 10st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Back from long absence with three very underwhelming runs at Sedgefield this season (2m1f-2m5f) and career strike-rate now stands at 0-19; 6lb out of the weights; difficult to enthuse over.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

11

3rd Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:00 Carlisle

Stowaway John

10st 5lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Sandy Forster

Belatedly off the mark in Hexham event (2m4f) last March; has failed to build on that win; not the percentage call.

33/1

9/4

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 343422 C

Last run: 8 days

W: 10st 12lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Six-time course winner (three times over fences); holds no secrets from the handicapper but looked as good as ever when second on last two appearances, the latter over C&D (heavy) eight days ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

12

14th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:48 Hexham

Cudgel

10st 2lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: James Walton

towards rear

20/1

Form: -67P87 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Out of form over fences and hurdles this season, and the addition of cheekpieces did not appear to make a big difference at Ayr a fortnight ago; drops in grade here and has become very well handicapped but needs to turn a corner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

13:30 Kelso

Grand Voyage

10st 4lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Stuart Coltherd

Following a two-month break and a spell in the doldrums this 10yo returned to form when third of 13 at Ayr (3m, soft) a fortnight ago; this C&D winner could be in the mix if backing up that latest performance.

9/1

3rd

12

29th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:13 Ayr

Grand Voyage

10st 2lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Stuart Coltherd

Two-time hurdle winner who is 5lb lower than when winning over fences here last March; however, this 10yo has been unable to threaten across his five starts since, back over hurdles on the last two occasions.

33/1

Form: 2-7641 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Placed three times over hurdles last season and built upon last month's very encouraging chase debut when keeping on well to score at Ayr (2m4f, heavy) three weeks later; recent 3lb rise ought to be manageable; likely contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 5

15:40 Kelso

Nights In Venice

11st 1lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Donald Whillans

Capitalised on a career-low mark to win at Ayr (3m, soft) four weeks ago; he's also effective on good to soft ground and a 4lb rise won't necessarily beat him, but he's inconsistent and has a good record at Ayr, so it's questionable whether he'll produce another good performance today.

9/2

1st

4

6th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

16:53 Ayr

Nights In Venice

11st 4lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Donald Whillans

Course winner who comes here in decent nick, though he finished tired when second of seven in 3m2f Kelso handicap chase three weeks ago; he can race off a 2lb lower mark here so must still enter calculations.

3/1

OUR TIP

Form: 6-1354 CD

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Safely held when fourth at Musselburgh (2m7f, soft) last month but will appreciate this dip back into Class 5 and is now only 1lb higher than when making all over C&D (soft) on seasonal debut in October.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

14th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:48 Hexham

Return Fire

11st 11lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

midfield, lost ground 4th, detached after 5th, struggling when pulled up before 15th

10/1

2

14th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:48 Hexham

Return Fire

11st 11lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Bagged a second C&D victory in November but his more recent form is less encouraging, only sixth over C&D last time; handily weighted if getting back on track, though.

10/1

6th

3

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

16:22 Hexham

Return Fire

11st 9lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

Resumed winning ways over C&D in November and posted a respectable sixth of ten in 3m Musselburgh handicap chase following month; much respected for his in-form yard after a break.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £50.60
Straight Forecast £67.08
Trifecta £222.50

Selections

POSTDATA:

Nights In Venice

TOPSPEED:

Cudgel

SPOTLIGHT:

Return Fire

Telegraph:

Nights In Venice

Daily Mail:

Nights In Venice

D Express:

Nights In Venice

Daily Mirror:

Nights In Venice

Daily Record:

Nights In Venice

RP RATINGS:

Return Fire

The Times:

Return Fire

The Guardian:

Cudgel

The Sun:

Cudgel

The Star:

Cudgel