Hexham
Monday, 13 April 2026 · 2m4f · Good To Soft · hurdle · Class Class 5 · £4,806
Race Assessment
Class 5 hurdle over 2m4f on good to soft ground at Hexham. The race features several interesting contenders with mixed recent form, including course winner Gardener who scored here 19 days ago and represents strong each-way value off a slightly higher mark.
Key Factors
- •Recent course form
- •Ground conditions favouring proven soft ground performers
- •Handicap weights and recent form trends
- •Trainer-jockey combinations with positive statistics
Going
Good to soft ground should suit several runners including Gardener (course winner on soft), Eric Carmen (better on softer), and Be The Difference who completed a soft-ground hat-trick earlier this season.
Pace
Likely moderate early pace with limited front-runners. This should set up well for horses that can finish strongly, particularly those with proven stamina at the trip.
Recommendations (2)
Gardener
eachway8/10Confidence: 7/10Course and distance winner just 19 days ago under the same jockey on similar ground. Despite being raised 4lb, the trainer has excellent distance statistics (A/E 1.27) and the horse has a perfect 1 from 1 record at this track-trip combination. The each-way value is strong given the place terms.
Suggested stake: 2.0% of bank
Eric Carmen
eachway7/10Confidence: 6/10Three wins this season before a poor run at Bangor on good ground. The softer conditions today should suit much better, and trainer has excellent statistics with 10-year-olds (16% strike rate, A/E 1.29). At 9.5, offers solid each-way value for a horse that was in excellent form until last run.
Suggested stake: 1.5% of bank
Runner Analysis
Be The Difference
Completed soft-ground hat-trick late last year but pulled up at Ayr two months ago after a bad mistake. The 10-year-old appears to have lost his form and faces a competitive field.
- + Proven soft ground performer
- + Hat-trick winner on similar ground
- - Pulled up last start
- - Two-month break
- - Age catching up
Kool Raoul
Inconsistent performer with poor statistical profile. Jockey has 0% strike rate for this trainer from 38 rides, and the horse has never won at this distance in three attempts.
- + Recent run just 24 days ago
- + Reasonable RPR of 110
- - Jockey-trainer combo 0 from 38
- - Never won at distance
- - Inconsistent form
Gardener
Won here 19 days ago under same jockey on soft ground in competitive 14-runner race. Up 4lb but trainer has strong statistics at this distance (A/E 1.27) and horse has excellent course-distance record.
- + Course and distance winner 19 days ago
- + Same winning jockey
- + Good soft ground form
- - Up 4lb from winning mark
- - Trainer's recent 14-day form poor
Highbury Hill
Won at Chepstow on soft ground in January but was tailed off over 3m last time. The step back in trip and 7lb claiming jockey may help, though consistency remains an issue.
- + Won on soft ground this year
- + 7lb weight allowance
- + Jockey 25% strike rate at course
- - Tailed off last start
- - Inconsistent performer
- - Poor distance record
Tantivy Vavoom
Making handicap debut after poor hurdle form, but trainer-jockey combination shows excellent statistics (21% strike rate, A/E 2.86). Needs significant improvement but could be well-handicapped.
- + Handicap debut
- + Strong trainer-jockey stats
- + Point-to-point winner
- - Poor hurdle form
- - Needs big improvement
- - Beaten 20+ lengths in hurdles
Our Laura B
Disappointing recent form with several pulled-up efforts. Trainer-jockey combination has excellent statistics but the mare's current form is concerning.
- + Excellent trainer-jockey stats (14% strike rate)
- + Trainer strong at course
- - Multiple pull-ups recently
- - Poor recent form
- - Never won at distance
Wise Move
Former point winner who was second at Wetherby on Boxing Day but form has deteriorated since. Ran poorly in a maiden last time and needs to rediscover earlier promise.
- + Second at Wetherby earlier this season
- + Point winner
- - Poor recent form
- - Ran badly in maiden last time
- - Trainer-jockey stats poor
Eric Carmen
In excellent form this season with three wins until a poor run at Bangor on good ground. May have needed softer conditions and could bounce back on today's ground.
- + Three wins this season
- + Good trainer stats with 10yo horses
- + Better on soft ground
- - Poor last run
- - Beaten 25 lengths at Bangor
- - Form may have peaked
My Boy Christy
Lightly raced with cheekpieces restored. Trainer-jockey combination has strong statistics (19% strike rate, A/E 1.99) and trainer excellent at this course and distance.
- + Strong trainer-jockey stats
- + Cheekpieces restored
- + Trainer 13% at course
- - Needs big improvement
- - Limited winning form
- - Long odds reflect poor form
Blended Stealth
Course winner last May but inconsistent since. Carrying bottom weight but is 7lb out of the handicap which makes the task difficult despite recent improvement.
- + Course winner
- + Bottom weight
- + Recent form improved slightly
- - 7lb out of handicap
- - Very inconsistent
- - Poor trainer statistics
No Value
Likely to be competitive but odds of 5.0 offer no edge given poor trainer-jockey statistics and inconsistent form
Handicap debut could see improvement but odds of 5.5 are too short given poor hurdle form to date
Avoid
Pulled up last start after bad mistake and appears to have lost form since completing hat-trick
Multiple recent pull-ups suggest fitness or attitude problems despite good trainer-jockey combination
Runners (10)
| Pos | Draw | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | OR | Weight | Odds | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | Be The Difference | Joe Williamson | Philip Kirby | 104 | 168lbs | 11.0 | 4/10 |
| - | - | Kool Raoul | Gregor Walkingshaw(10) | Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore | 104 | 168lbs | 5.0 | 3/10 |
| - | - | Gardener | Charlie Maggs(3) | Mike Sowersby | 102 | 166lbs | 5.0 | 8/10 |
| - | - | Highbury Hill | Murray Dodd(7) | Nigel Hawke | 100 | 164lbs | 6.0 | 5/10 |
| - | - | Tantivy Vavoom | Theo Gillard | Ruth Jefferson | 97 | 161lbs | 5.5 | 4/10 |
| - | - | Our Laura B | Richie McLernon | Ben Haslam | 95 | 159lbs | 6.5 | 4/10 |
| - | - | Wise Move | Jonathon Bewley | George Bewley | 92 | 156lbs | 12.0 | 5/10 |
| - | - | Eric Carmen | Benjamin Macey(5) | Gary Hanmer | 89 | 153lbs | 9.5 | 7/10 |
| - | - | My Boy Christy | Peter Kavanagh | Ewan Whillans | 83 | 147lbs | 21.0 | 7/10 |
| - | - | Blended Stealth | James Best | Lizzie Quinlan | 78 | 142lbs | 23.0 | 3/10 |