Irish trainer sends two horses on 486-mile round trip to Hexham on Sunday ⛴️ 🚛

Irish trainer JJ Lambe is sending two horses from Northern Ireland across the Irish Sea to run at Hexham Racecourse on Sunday. This is not a rare thing at all as many Irish trainers head for Scotland, in particular trainers based in the north who have easy ferry access from Belfast and Larne ports.

What is interesting about these two runners is the fact that champion jockey Brian Hughes is booked to ride them both. Hughes generally won’t hop on a horse that doesn’t have a half decent chance so the fact he is aboard must mean they are trying hard.

3.55 Hexham

Form figures over hurdles that read 0990 for True Destiny are far from inspiring but this gelding was a flat winner when trained by Roger Charlton. The 7yo ran in three tough Irish maiden hurdles before also disappointing on handicap hurdling debut at Down Royal. It is hard to see where the sufficient improvement will come from but this is a very weak maiden hurdle and won’t take much winning. There’s no better man to have on board than Brian Hughes so no excuses on that front.

5.00 Hexham

Twelve runners are set to go to post for this bumper, and Brian Hughes will get the leg up on Ballyporeen. This 5yo son of Fame And Glory has shown ability in two career starts, fifth in an Ayr bumper on debut in May before finishing fifth again at Down Royal. He wasn’t knocked about in both races once his chance was gone and he wouldn’t have to improve a whole lot to play a part in this contest. He is respected.

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