Scu' Rides the Box Car to Hexham…

Good news this Wednesday afternoon: Hexham has survived the artic conditions currently prevalent in the north of England and its seven race card gets under way at 12.20. Leicester also stages a six race card getting under way at 1.00 while all-weather fans are well catered for with Kempton and Lingfield both staging meetings today.

Lingfield Park go with a seven race card starting today at 12.40 with the seven furlong claiming race where Cristal Gem and My Name Is Don look to have it between them. Next up is the seller at 1.10 where Elaine Burke significantly sends Finefrenzyrolling down on the long trek from North Yorkshire. Watch for old timer Dvinsky in this race also; he showed a welcome return to form on his latest start and if kicking on early could be hard to peg back. Incidentally Dvinsky runs in his 195th race this afternoon. Must be some kind of record. Who says flat racers are wrapped up in cotton wool?

Titan Triumph has drawn the coffin box 14 in the seven furlong handicap at 2.10 but he has won six times here at Lingers and more importantly has dropped to a potential winning mark today. Jockey Robert Winston comes here for one mount only, Prince Of Burma for Jeremy Gask also in this race. Watch for Kiss A Prince in the twelve furlong handicap at 2.40; he looks for a sixth course win this afternoon, while Jimmy Fortune takes his only mount of the day, Tornado Force for Jeremy Noseda in this same race also.

The market may well be the best guide to the ten furlong maiden at 3.10. Marcus Tregoning has a good record with his older horses here and Vertibes is certainly one to keep on your side if the market speaks in his favour. Final mention for Yakama in the concluding one mile handicap at 3.40, he finished fourth in this same race last year and could provide Norfolk trainer Christine Dunnett with an early Christmas present.

Leicester’s six race card gets under way at 1.00 with an interesting looking novices hurdle. Jockey Jerry McGrath has a 36% strike rate for Henderson here at the track and any move in the direction of Global Fella should be duly noted. Joker Choker should take the beginner’s chase (1.30) en route to bigger prizes while the Neil King-trained Afsoun must be respected in the two and a half mile handicap at 3.00, given his trainer’s impressive 43% strike rate in handicap hurdles here at Leicester.

Off up to Hexham now where the first of their seven race card gets under way at 12.20. A cautionary note if travelling by train- my anorak twitter account tells me signalling problems at Newcastle station this morning were causing delays to outgoing  trains. That shouldn’t bother Jockey Tom Scudamore who travels a long way for one mount only, Captain Moonman in the three mile maiden hurdle at 12.50- could be significant! Open De L’Isle has a couple of course wins on his CV and the two and a half mile handicap chase looks well within his scope under leading Hexham jockey Brian Hughes.

Jason Maguire and Donald McCain are the firm to follow here at Hexham and they rarely leave the venue without a winner. Edge Of Town (1.50) and Koup De Kanon (2.20) will both be short prices in their respective heats, but they both hold reasonable chances of  providing McCain and Maguire with a quick fire double. Cartmel trainer James Moffatt and ten pound claimer Joel Belbin have a decent 40% strike rate here at Hexham and their mare Arisea should be respected in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle at 2.50.

Racing closes with the long distance handicap chase where local trainer Anne Hamilton might have a chance with Treehouse. He’s won three times over fences around here including a win in this same handicap back in 2009. In what will undoubtedly be a slog in the ground the lightly-raced grey Shadow Boxer might have a small chance at a price. Trained by Donald Whillans, a yard that have a 33% strike rate in handicap chases here at Hexham.

Enjoy today’s racing and remember to call us here at Star Spreads for all the latest market information for today’s racing. You won’t be disappointed.