6:15 Hexham Tips

Needs a stamina test to bring out his best, so this track with the uphill finish should suit him. Worth backing here.

Reckon that Seasett remains with plenty of upside. Raced well when with Shark Hanlon and competed in some hot races. Rates a decent chance here.

Divilabother has been knocking on the door with two runner-up finishes lately and looks ready to strike soon. He ran a game second over 2m3f at Downpatrick, sticking on well, and that suggests that today's 2m4f could be right up his street. Off a mark of 99 with Harry Reed up for T Davidson, he has shown consistency on similar ground and has the right attitude for this type of race. Expect him to be held up and delivered late, with a strong chance if building on that recent form.

Very well supported in the market. Still looking for first win but ran well last time out at Market Rasen, coming 4th from 12th, and now tried in first-time visor.

The model I run suggests Palm Beach can win this one. Palm Beach lines up here with the third highest RPR of the larger 16 runner field but has an official ranking which is closer to the lower order. Subsequently, carries less weight around the 2m 4f round trip. Winner when last out 41 days ago and looks to repeat that here. Jockey on board relieves 7 lbs further, which helps over the distance. Model has issued a 'very low' stake indicator which translates to a 0.5pt bet on a scale of 0-4.

Foxes Socks has only won 1 of his 32 starts and looks interesting here off just 1lb above his lowest ever handicap mark. His only win came over hurdles at Uttoxeter in July '21, but he has been placed in 12 of his over 31 starts. He was second at Huntingdon in May and then 3rd at Southwell before finishing 4th at Market Rasen in June. It is interesting he is tried in blinkers for the first time today, and if they work, he looks like a good EW bet with 5 places on offer.

Aazza is a course winner. It won twice in the spring over 3 miles, then reached the frame in its next two. A bad mistake at Perth last time can excuse that run. If he gets the luck in running and jumping here today under Ryan Mania, he could certainly be good enough to be involved in the finish at a decent price.

Zeezee has been freshened up after a break. A tongue-tie has been fitted which may bring necessary improvement. By Yeats, this mare's pedigree is all stamina and the stiff Hexham course should suit. Zeezee has raced over two miles previously and the step up to 2.5 miles can show her in a better light. Zeezee is from a good jumping family down the damline and is related, via the granddam, to Grade 2 winning jumper Castlegrace Paddy. Zeezee achieved little for Pauline Robson but the switch to Adam Nicol's stable looks a good move. Mr Nicol is operating at a 20% strike rate with his hurdlers this season. Out of the handicap but Sean Quinlan can do 10-2 and there can be few excuses for Zeezee off this low weight in what is a run of the mill hurdle race.

Looking at the runs in Ireland and for current connections, O'Faolains Glory appears to be a tricky sort but clearly has some ability in there when looking at the run at Musselburgh in a class 2 in May. That came from higher in the handicap, and there's a chance softer going and a longer trip on more recent outings weren't suitable. Considered IF, and I emphasize the IF, we get a going day.