Hexham Saturday

Good to soft for Hexham's 7 race Saturday card, and we've a runner in the lucky last at 5.05pm.

Couple of morning withdrawals so that leaves 5 opponents for Bill Aitchison's Houxty Belle to face on debut in this 2 mile bumper. Looking into her pedigree gives a glimmer of hope for this lovely mare as there are several bumper winners fairly close up in her family. But we'll see how this race pans out.

Not much form to analyse but probably the best on record is that of Looking As You Are who was runner up on debut a month ago at Southwell. She'd be expected to improve from that but there's a world of difference between the flat Southwell and the undulating Hexham, so she may be vulnerable to a newcomer.
And that may well be John McConnell's Irish raider Stadium Talk who won an Irish Point in mid February, although that form itself is subject to caution as neither the close up 2nd nor 3rd showed much on subsequent racecourse debut.

A Northern bumper wouldn't be the same without a Crawford Bros. challenger and sure enough Titch Magee makes the journey across the Irish Sea. Pulled up in both starts in Irish Points but such form hasn't proven to be a hindrance to this yard in the past.

Theo Gillard takes the ride and we're sure Bill & Carol will enjoy what promises to be a sunny day out at their local course.

Houxty Belle (Garry)