We send five runners to Hexham on Tuesday where the ground at the time of writing is good, and they are watering to maintain.
Our first runner Hala Princess is in the 2.10.pm, a handicap hurdle over two miles and four furlongs. This is her first venture in to handicap company,having previously raced in two bumpers, and three novice hurdles. She has only raced once for us, having previously been in the care of the Dan Skelton yard, that race being last month at Southwell over two miles, where she earned her opening BHA rating of 86, this step up in trip should help, Joe Colliver takes the ride.
Percy B Shelley runs in division two of the handicap hurdle at 2.40.pm,he has raced on three occasions since joining us last December, having previously been in the charge of John Gosden, and Noel Meade, in Ireland.He was a winner on the flat back in May 2019 at Gowran Park, and placed third over two miles at the same venue over jumps, in October of last year,which would probably be his best effort to date over hurdles.Two and a half miles around Hexham, from a falling mark of 89 should be no problem, with Joe Colliver in the saddle.
Swinton Diamond's career to date has been blighted by injury, so hopefully from now on he can get a clear run at things, he will contest the 3.40.pm.To date he is a dual winner, over hurdles at Market Rasen back in 2017, and also has a victory over fences at Carlisle in 2018, on good ground.He reappeared at Southwell last month after a 22 month break, and ran like the race was needed, we should see more from him this time, as he runs from his last winning mark of 94, Emma Smith-Chaston takes the ride, as regular jockey Alain Cawley is still out injured.
In his pomp Ballycrystal would have picked this lot up and carried them from his current mark of 100, having been rated 130 two and a half years ago.Since joining us in November of last year, he has ran on four occasions, only showing a glimmer of his former glory.He was entitled to need his initial run back last time, his first since March. He runs in the handicap hurdle at 4.10.pm, the first time he has run over two miles since his bumper days, Becky Smith retains the ride.
Our final representative is in the finale at 5.50.pm, when newcomer Get On John goes to post. The race has unusual conditions, as it is for horses aged four, five and six only, that have never raced under any code, including point to points.Get On John is out of an unraced Milan mare, whose only other racecourse representative is Cremant, who is a full brother, and is a point to point winner, who is currently in training with Neil Mullholland, with a hurdles rating of 102.With no form to go on, there is no telling how good the race is, with Nicky Henderson sending one up, and with James Ewart booking the champion jockey Brian Hughes,but we have the ex champion Richard Johnson, to give the opposition something to think about.