October 12 / 16.20 Hexham

16.20

Good To Soft

First Class Catering From Falcons Events Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £8132.74
  • 2m 7f 63y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
SKY
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First Class Catering From Falcons Events Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

10/1 (Won)

Form: 41155-

Last run: 176 days

W: 10st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Stays well, with all four wins coming in handicaps from 3m to 3m2f; still on a fair mark and pushed Our Sam close in this 12 months ago on reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

13th May 2026

Good

3m 2f 127y

Class 4

15:08 Perth

Shoeshine Boy

11st 10lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Donald Whillans

Two wins on soft/heavy over 3m at Ayr last January; some fair efforts since; return to this trip should suit but best form on softer ground.

9/1

5th

17

17th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

16:43 Ayr

Shoeshine Boy

10st 7lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Donald Whillans

Course specialist who won two in a row over C&D (heavy/soft) in January; he's better than he showed when 15l third over C&D (soft) in February and the subsequent break may have helped, but this 10yo may still be vulnerable back up in grade.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 21/1P1 CD

Last run: 76 days

W: 12st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Pulled up over fences but has won both his handicap hurdles since returning from an absence, the latest at Uttoxeter by clear daylight (2m7f, good); up 5lb but he was rated higher back in the day and he still has some class about him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 3

16:20 Hexham

Dinons

11st 1lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Brian Ellison

Beaten a nose in this race 12 months ago off a 16lb higher mark; has been in sharp decline since but there was more encouragement in his fifth of 11 at Uttoxeter last month; likes Hexham and too well treated to be ignored.

12/1

4

16th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

14:10 Uttoxeter

Dinons

11st 12lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Brian Ellison

Veteran who gained his latest win in Class 2 C&D contest (good; has also won on heavy) last summer and is now 9lb below that mark; out of form this year, though, and needs to prove he still has what it takes.

14/1

1

4th Sep 2025

Good

3m 3f 9y

Class 4

18:00 Sedgefield

Dinons

12st 1lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Brian Ellison

Veteran who won off 4lb higher at Uttoxeter (2m7f, good) just over a year ago and followed that up with nose defeat at Hexham in October; not in the same form since returning in April but mark reflects that and this is a drop in class.

16/1

Form: 12222-

Last run: 210 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten in his three bumpers and added two novice hurdles about this time last year; runner-up in three consecutive handicaps, all of them competitive affairs (2m3f-2m7f; the latest in first-time blinkers); raised 5lb for last time but he's a likeable type; considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

13:20 Aintree

Supremely West

11st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Provided yet another example of his yard's prowess in top handicaps when quite comfortably justifying strong market support in the Pertemps at Cheltenham (3m, good) last month, with seven of today's rivals in behind; raised 9lb but could be capable of even better.

4/1

1st

7

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Supremely West

10st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

No ground issues; promising late gains when third of 17 on stable debut in the Cheltenham qualifier in October; not so hot since but those runs aren't hard to forgive (the latest was over just 2m4f) and he's now 2lb lower than on that eye-catching reappearance; trainer is a dab hand in these Festival handicaps and this 8yo has been favourite for this race for some time.

3/1

3rd

4

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 208y

Class 2

14:55 Cheltenham

Supremely West

11st 3lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Won for the Newland-Insole stable at Haydock (3m, heavy) last December and signed off for them with a pretty good third at Warwick (3m1f, good) in April; sold for £24,000 since; remains on a career-high mark but had wind surgery during summer break and it will be interesting to see what Dan Skelton can do with him.

16/1

Form: 711P1- CD

Last run: 190 days

W: 11st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
0-8 as a chaser but he's won three of his last four hurdles and had a nice bit in hand the final time at Musselburgh (3m, soft); 6lb higher here and they claimed 5lb last time, so could be vulnerable without a run under his belt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

25th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 71y

Class 4

17:00 Catterick

Velasco

11st 12lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Susan Corbett

Three wins in early part of last year, including quite valuable final of this Brindisi Breeze series at Musselburgh (3m, soft); back on a good mark now but has largely been disappointing this season and needs to up his game.

25/1

6

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:10 Market Rasen

Velasco

11st 5lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Susan Corbett

Won three slow-ground handicaps early last year from 2m4f to 3m; had wind surgery following a slow start to this campaign and has dropped to a useful mark.

14/1

5th

6

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:10 Market Rasen

Velasco

11st 5lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Susan Corbett

Won three slow-ground handicaps early last year from 2m4f to 3m; had wind surgery following a slow start to this campaign and has dropped to a useful mark.

14/1

Form: 273-12

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Improving novice who bumped into a useful one last time at Kelso (2m5f, good); an interesting handicap debutant, for all that he's unproven over this far.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

19th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

20:30 Huntingdon

Kandor

11st 12lb

J: Mr Daniel Williams

T: M Gill

Fair handicapper when trained by Lucinda Russell and 2-6 in points for current stable, the latter win gained in three-runner mixed open at Edgcote (3m, good) last month; probably has a big role to play in this.

5/2

4

15th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:50 Perth

Kandor

11st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Won a novice hurdle here last July (2m4f, good); four runs over fences, best effort when 1.75l fourth of eight over C&D last time (good to soft); contender.

4/1

4

15th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:50 Perth

Kandor

11st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Won a novice hurdle here last July (2m4f, good); four runs over fences, best effort when 1.75l fourth of eight over C&D last time (good to soft); contender.

4/1

Form: 8-P757 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Formerly a very useful hurdler/chaser and he won two 3m handicap hurdles on good ground last summer; on a good mark again but has to leave his recent form behind.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

12th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 63y

Class 3

16:20 Hexham

Aramax

11st 9lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

in touch with leaders

20/1

7th

1

18th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

17:05 Kelso

Aramax

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Formerly a very useful hurdler/chaser; not quite so good these days but won two 3m handicap hurdles on good ground last summer; bit below par since; on a good mark and today's going will suit but better over further these days.

12/1

5th

3

24th Aug 2024

Soft

3m 1f 83y

Class 2

15:25 Cartmel

Aramax

11st 9lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

prominent, went second after 8th, prominent 3 out, weakened approaching last

10/1

Form: 26-504 CD BF

Last run: 49 days

W: 10st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Won this last year off 1lb higher but below his best so far in 2024; beaten 21l last time at Cartmel and he won that race 12 months earlier; has a bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

25th Aug 2025

Good

3m 1f 83y

Class 2

15:30 Cartmel

Our Sam

10st 2lb

J: Leah Noreci

T: James Moffatt

Won twice here in 2023; respectable efforts this year but not as good as he was; 10lb out of the weights.

16/1

10th

14

19th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 3

15:22 Cartmel

Our Sam

10st 5lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

Dual course winner in 2023; kept on for fourth over C&D (good to soft; also suited by soft/heavy) in May and subsequent Hexham second was also very respectable but he's no longer the force of old.

14/1

4

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 4

18:50 Hexham

Our Sam

11st 1lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

C&D winner in 2023; well below best form over the last year or so but at least took a step back in right direction when keeping-on fourth at Cartmel (2m6f, good to soft) ten days ago.

12/1

Form: /UUP4/

Last run: 660 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Never took to fences and was beaten 16l on his return to hurdling in a 2m4f Ayr handicap; that was in late 2022 and not seen since; risky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 149y

Class 5

14:25 Newcastle

Half Track

11st 7lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

He's well handicapped on last season's best efforts but this 10yo hasn't been able to threaten this term and has a poor 1-22 strike-rate.

16/1

Non-runners

Skyjack Hijack

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £39.79
Tricast £108.92

Selections

POSTDATA:

Skyjack Hijack

SPOTLIGHT:

Kandor

D Express:

Supremely West

RP RATINGS:

Shoeshine Boy

Daily Mail:

Our Sam

The Guardian:

Velasco

Telegraph:

Aramax

TOPSPEED:

Dinons

Daily Mirror:

Skyjack Hijack

The Star:

Skyjack Hijack

Daily Record:

Kandor

The Sun:

Supremely West

The Times:

Shoeshine Boy