March 12 / 15.02 Hexham

15.02

Heavy

BK Racing Hexham Marathon Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7657.45
  • 3m 7f 199y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
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BK Racing Hexham Marathon Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

Form: 1-130P C

Last run: 15 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Won at Ayr (3m, soft) in November, and gave a good account (third) in the Borders National at Kelso; however, he has lost his way since, struggling at Windsor (3m4f) and pulling up in the North Wales National at Bangor (3m5f); track/trip/ground fine; possible he'll bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

De Legislator

10st 5lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

His two chase wins have been at 3m but he got the 4m fine when third at Kelso in December; he has performed shockingly on his last two starts with no trip/ground excuses and arrives here under a cloud, but possible positives are the removal of headgear and his stable's form.

16/1

3

25th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 5f 142y

Class 4

16:00 Bangor-on-Dee

De Legislator

11st 13lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

2-5 over fences and an assured stayer having finished a 5l-third over 4m at Kelso in December; Windsor last time was disappointing but not all horses take to that track.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 14-52P CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Justified favouritism (beat Don Brocco) in this in 2024, but finished a place behind that rival when only fourth last year; mixed fortunes this season, unable to replicate solid effort (second) in the Borders National when pulling up at Bangor (3m5f) latest; yet to win off this mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

24th Apr 2026

Good

3m 6f 121y

Class 3

14:05 Perth

Breeze Of Wind

11st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Stuart Coltherd

Pulled up two runs ago but solid efforts in defeat on either side of that and he's an assured stayer at this trip; the blinkers are new, as were the cheekpieces when third at Kelso last month.

10/1

3rd

5

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 39y

Class 2

15:13 Kelso

Breeze Of Wind

10st 4lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Stuart Coltherd

Strong stayer who was 6lb out of the weights when runner-up in the Scottish Borders National here in December; off the same mark for this but has to bounce back from a pretty poor run at Bangor; cheekpieces added.

12/1

Form: P-4866

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Yet to win over fences (0-8) and has twice finished behind De Legislator this season, including when eighth of 11 in the Borders National at Kelso (4m; beaten 24l in added cheekpieces); no joy over hurdles at Ayr, or returned to fences at Carlisle (3m) latest; steadily easing mark a plus.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

11

24th Apr 2026

Good

3m 6f 121y

Class 3

14:05 Perth

President Scottie

10st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Dual hurdle winner; has been expensive to follow over fences (0-9) and fair to say that others arrive here in better form.

9/1

5th

7

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

15:52 Carlisle

President Scottie

10st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Respectable third (off 12lb higher) when favourite for this race last year but was in better form at the time; last of six finishers returned to this C&D most recently, taking chase record to 0-8.

10/1

Form: 054361

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Took advantage of an easing mark in the North Wales National at Bangor (3m5f, soft) latest; raised 9lb but he did win a Class 3 off this mark at Windsor (3m4f; 25-1) in January 2025; first attempt over 4m but has solid claims under the 3lb claimer Charlie Maggs.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

Planned Paradise

11st 6lb

J: Mr J J Murphy-Knight

T: Christian Williams

Bounced back to form and won soft-ground marathons at Banger (3m5f) and Hexham (4m) in February/March; pulled up (lame) in early stages at Plumpton last time but has made the frame in the last two editions of this race (both on good ground) and can make his presence felt again.

7/1

8

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 104y

Class 2

16:25 Plumpton

Planned Paradise

10st 8lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Exploited a reduced mark to win at Bangor (3m5f, soft) in February and again had plenty in hand at Hexham (4m, soft) 12 days ago; this is a hotter race than last time and this 10yo is up 10lb, but he's clearly in rude health and could be bang there once more; handles any ground.

7/1

1st

6

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 7f 199y

Class 4

15:41 Hexham

Planned Paradise

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Christian Williams

Exploited a reduced mark to win readily at Bangor (extended 3m5f, soft) four weeks ago; on last season's evidence a 9lb rise is unlikely to stop him if he can back up that latest performance; high on the list.

3/1

Form: P-5663

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Sole chase win came in Class 3 mares' handicap at Catterick (3m1f, soft; 6-5 favourite) in February 2024, but she was doing her best work late when runner-up in this last year (first-time blinkers, from 7lb higher); poor since, until minor glimmer (third, beaten 18l) at Sedgefield latest; risky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:50 Hexham

Shighness

12st 0lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Hasn't won for a couple of years and that was over fences, but she shaped encouragingly reverting to hurdles when third at Sedgefield (3m3f, soft) in February, albeit beaten nearly 19l, and has fallen back over fences since; however, she's on a handy mark and is hard to dismiss.

15/2

Form: 487242

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Sole win in a Carlisle bumper in 2023; runner-up in two of his last three, but only a modest second at Ayr (3m; beaten 14l) latest; is lowly weighted, albeit not aided by being 6lb wrong; stamina reserves (first attempt over 4m) a complete guessing game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Rob Roy Macgregor

10st 13lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Sandy Thomson

Bumper winner on debut (2m1f, heavy); four fair runs with cheekpieces at up to 4m this year, all with give in the ground; worth considering.

6/1

3rd

10

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 7f 199y

Class 4

15:41 Hexham

Rob Roy Macgregor

10st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Sandy Thomson

0-16 since winning on debut in March 2023 and he's 5lb out of the handicap today; however, he's been hinting in chases at about 3m this year that today's extra test of stamina may be right up his street; interesting for stable that had an excellent weekend.

8/1

Form: P3-P8P

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Recent form figures of P8P aren't encouraging, and he was the first beaten when returning from wind surgery at Kelso (3m2f, heavy; 25-1); on the plus side, he was runner-up to Breeze of Wind in this in 2024 and third to Betterforeveryone last year, so may revive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:20 Hexham

Don Brocco

10st 8lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Gary Rutherford

1-20 over fences and although he finished second here (4m) in March, he has run below that since at Carlisle and back over hurdles at Perth; requires an extreme test to be seen at his best.

33/1

8th

9

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Don Brocco

10st 5lb

J: Miss Lucy Brown

T: Gary Rutherford

Both hurdle wins came over 3m/3m1f on soft back in 2022; fair second in a 4m h'cap chase at Hexham last month (soft), but not so good last time.

16/1

5th

5

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

15:27 Carlisle

Don Brocco

11st 0lb

J: Edward Austin

T: Gary Rutherford

Belied 40-1 odds when keeping-on second (no threat to winner) at Hexham (4m, soft) last month and is also well suited by this track but is far too inconsistent to rely upon and would appeal more on soft/heavy ground.

9/1

Verdict

The 2024 winner Breeze of Wind, Don Brocco (placed in the last two years) and Shighness (runner-up last year) are capable of going well but, equally, wouldn’t be the most reliable. De Legislator, third in the Borders National, is the class act, but faces a tough task off top weight. Therefore, preference is for the North Wales National winner PLANNED PARADISE, for whom Charlie Maggs takes off a handy 3lb. [Mark Rowntree]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Planned Paradise

TOPSPEED:

President Scottie

The Times:

De Legislator

The Star:

Breeze Of Wind

POSTDATA:

President Scottie

Daily Mail:

De Legislator

RP RATINGS:

Planned Paradise

Telegraph:

Planned Paradise

The Guardian:

Planned Paradise

D Express:

Planned Paradise

Daily Mirror:

Planned Paradise

The Sun:

Planned Paradise

Daily Record:

Planned Paradise