Hexham, Tuesday 19 May: Tips and Selections

Hexham, Tuesday 19 May: Tips and Selections

Hexham on a Tuesday evening in May is exactly the kind of card that rewards homework over hype. Good to soft ground, competitive northern handicaps, and a sprinkling of novice intrigue. Three races stand out for tipping purposes tonight, with one selection clear at the head of the market for good reason and a couple of value angles worth pursuing alongside it.

6:20 — Port Of Blyth Handicap Chase (1m7½f, Good To Soft)

Selection: Conquer The Breeze (8/11 Boyle Sports, Betfred)

Yes, he’s favourite. No, that doesn’t make him wrong. Conquer The Breeze ticks almost every box you want in a short-priced selection: a dual course-and-distance winner, ground he demonstrably handles (won last time on good to soft), a yard in form at 1/6 over the past fortnight, and the key detail that he was well supported on his stable debut just ten days ago and duly delivered. The 8lb rise is the one question mark the market is rightly asking, but Ryan Mania keeps the ride and this horse’s two Hexham wins suggest he has a genuine affinity for the track.

Of the others, Diamond Mix at 5/2 is the clear danger. A dual C&D winner himself, his third at Newcastle in March on identical ground reads well, and Paul Robson’s runner should be sharper for that pipe-opener. If anything were to derail the favourite, it’s him. Dream Jet at 10/1 has a fine course record (231413 here) but his seasonal reappearances tend to need the run, so siding with him first time out is an act of faith rather than form study.

7:50 — Northumberland County Show Novices’ Hurdle (2m4f, Good To Soft)

Selection: Mister St Eloi (11/8 Boyle Sports, Betfred)

This is a fascinating five-runner novice hurdle and the one that genuinely splits opinion. Bold Step for Nicky Henderson at 6/4 looks the obvious pick on pedigree and the backing of a powerful yard (half-brother to useful hurdlers, promising bumper debut). But at 6/4 first time over hurdles with no hurdles form whatsoever, you are paying for reputation rather than evidence.

Mister St Eloi at 11/8 offers a stronger case. Sold for £180,000 after a campaign that included running a subsequent hurdle winner to a neck in a point, this is an Olly Murphy yard that has been operating at a 12/42 clip over the past fortnight. That is a yard absolutely firing. Yes, there has been a long absence, but the point form is rock solid and Murphy doesn’t run expensive purchases at northern evening meetings to make up the numbers. Passing Diamond at 11/4 is respected given his recent maiden hurdle win here, but carrying a penalty against rivals without one softens his claims.

8:20 — Port Of Blyth Handicap Hurdle (2m4f, Good To Soft)

Selection: Red Cadillac Each-Way (8/1 Boyle Sports, LiveScore Bet)

Thirteen runners, four places at 1/5 odds. This is a proper northern handicap hurdle and it wants unpicking carefully. Thewoodcorner at 13/8 is the obvious one. Nicky Henderson, progressive profile, won on good to soft last time over this exact trip. The case writes itself. But at 13/8 in a 13-runner handicap with 8lb to find, you are laying out too much to win too little.

Red Cadillac at 8/1 is the play. Nicky Richards has been red-hot in the past fortnight at 4/9, Callum Bewley takes the ride, and the form reads beautifully: won at Carlisle on his reappearance, then improved twice at Ayr stepping up in trip, winning on soft last time. The 8lb rise is the challenge, but this horse has been improving race by race and his profile suggests he may not have reached his ceiling yet. Good to soft suits, 2m4f suits, and the each-way terms at 1/5 the odds for four places give you a proper safety net at a price worth backing.

Balboa at 6/1 deserves a mention. Won at Ayr on soft last month after a mark reduction and Seamus Mullins has been in solid form at 2/9. He’d be second choice. Banderas at 8/1 is interesting on the back of a promising return here 17 days ago and goes up in trip which the form suggests he needs.

Today’s NAP