4.00pm Hexham Tips & Betting Preview 05/09/2017

A field of ten go to post for the fourth race of the day at Hexham on Tuesday. See our betting tips and full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Minella Rebellion is likely to be hugely popular as a Nicky Henderson horse, but he’s risky as he’s shown little thus far in his career. Preference is for Malcolm Jefferson’s ETHELWYN, who has struggled over fences this season but will be much happier back over timber. She won a similar race to this off a five pound higher mark last summer and she even placed off of six pounds higher back in the autumn. She is too well treated to ignore under Brian Hughes and should make a mockery of this mark.

1 MOORLANDS MIST – Dual hurdle winner who hasn’t scored since 2013, racing mainly over fences since. He was last seen at Market Rasen when a well beaten fourth for Sara Ender, merely plugging on towards the finish. He returns to hurdling off a nine pound higher mark and has plenty to prove under five pound claimer Nathan Moscrop. On the best of his previous hurdling form he’d have a big chance, but he is risky.

2 CHAMPAGNE CHASER – Seven-year-old for Tim Vaughan who was last seen at Lingfield finishing a laboured fourth, unable to quicken towards the finish. A drop back in trip on that evidence should suit, but there has to be concern about the conditions, as his best work has been completed on ground softer than good. Possible each way player back in trip, but others make more appeal with the ground as it is.

3 TORNADO WATCH – Won three times over hurdles for David Loughnane and he was back to form on his latest start when second at Cartmel, finishing clear in that position behind a well treated rival. He should be happier upped in trip and the fact that he was well backed on his latest start suggests that connections are confident off this mark. Conditions will be fine and he shouldn’t be far away.

4 D’PINESFLYER – Yet to win from 12 rules starts, signing off from the Patrick Neville yard when well beaten at Tramore in June. She makes her debut today for Johnny Farrelly and, although she’s shown ability at points, it’s hard to know just where she is at this stage in her career. James Bowen takes off seven pounds and others are preferred on this occasion until we know more.

5 MINELLA REBELLION – Bought for £90,000 at the Cheltenham sales, however this Nicky Henderson inmate isn’t one of the shining lights of his yard. He made his handicap debut at Kempton on his latest start, blundering three out where he weakened tamely thereafter. He remains on the same mark and, even though he is almost certainly capable of better, you would have to be taking that on trust at this stage. Couldn’t be discounted, however he’s clearly also a risky proposition.

6 BORDER BREAKER – Last win over hurdles came in March 2016 off an 11 pound lower mark, he’s been running consistently well of late for Simon Waugh. He has finished fourth on his last two runs, only losing second on the run-in on his latest start at Perth. He’s one pound lower here and a repeat of that performance would see him in with a place chance. Nevertheless, he does need to improve for win purposes and remains vulnerable.

7 ETHELWYN – Won a similar race to this back in July 2016 off a five pound higher mark and she ran well on three subsequent runs over timber, however she’s struggled in three chase runs this season. She should be much happier back over the smaller obstacles and her current mark is obviously more than fair, with conditions to suit. Brian Hughes retains the ride and she is highly interesting, with a winning run looking very likely.

8 NICKI’S NIPPER – Four wins from 25 hurdling starts and this nine-year-old mare gained the latest of those three starts ago at Cartmel, winning at the 3m 2f distance easily. She now drops back markedly in trip after two poor runs at Cartmel and this venue, with the tongue-tie going on. She is still eight pounds above her last winning mark and it’s very easy to look elsewhere on this occasion.

9 FLYING JACK – Had a torrid time of things here three starts ago when being badly hampered at the first before running out, but he atoned for that when winning over course and distance on his latest start. He was all out to fend off the challenge, so a five pound rise has to be of concern as he goes back up in grade for Maurice Barnes. Each way claims at best as he does look vulnerable off this mark.

10 NOTNOWSAM – Winner under both codes for Micky Hammond, although the latest of those came way back in May 2015. His form of late has been nothing to shout about, last seen over course and distance in a Class 5 event finishing a close third behind Flying Jack. He meets that rival on better terms and could sneak a place if building on that latest run. That is far from guaranteed, however, and his patchy profile puts us off completely.