One runner at Hexham on Monday

Hexham 22nd April : 3.30 pm 3m 0-100 Handicap Chase (Class 5)

Couple of our runners in the last few days have run personal bests, going close but just not quite enough to win. Case in point was the excellent return to the turf for Pallas Lord at Musselburgh on Sunday, racing prominently but not just having enough in the final furlong to catch Jim Goldie's Kelpie Grey.
Last Friday, Shoeshine Boy also ran very well in a valuable staying hurdle at Ayr's Grand National meeting. He was there with a chance jumping the last but couldn't find enough pace to reach the frame (finished 5th).

So........onto Hexham today, where Cowboy Cooper will face 9 opponents and heavy ground in the staying chase.

He's been given a few extra weeks off following his below par run at Ayr at the beginning of March, so it's only fair to say he's got a wee bit to prove in this event. But he's run well at Hexham in testing ground a few times (over hurdles) before. Craig Nichol rides for Bill Aitchison.

Naturally enough, there are several here who act on heavy ground such as Poetry Man and Torosay with Micky Hammond's Monaghan Boy likely to come to the fore.