Hexham - April 15

The ground had once again dried right out and it looked like good all over, although there were murmurs that it was quicker in parts.

Glinger Flame had hosed up in a handicap at the last meeting and looked in good order for a quick follow up back in trip, duly obliging after taking a lead from chief market rival Mr Scrumpy.

The runner-up won a bumper here on soft ground, looking half decent in the process, and this quite athletic youngster looks more of a stayer over timber with more juice in the ground likely to suit.

The only other backable one was J Ewart's Honourary Gift but he didn't especially take the eye and proved very one-paced, looking sure to want much further already.

Bobndave doesn't have the physicality of stablemate Alfiboy but seemed to run better than ever, both Smith horses wanting a trip and softer ground.

Likeamonkey is worth a namecheck, being from that progressive L Morgan yard, a fair animal still  looking backward on debut aged seven, more green and immature than anything, but was putting in a good shift until crashing through the wing at the somewhat precariously positioned final flight.

He might go under the radar in the coming weeks but showed more than enough ability to build on.

A two mile handicap chase brought together a trio from Sedgefield nearly four weeks ago but Miss Amelia was fancied of the group to come out on top at this very different venue, a track where sibling Miss Conway prospered some time ago.

Once again finding only the one pace here, Miss Amelia may well be better served by the forcing tactics that served big sis so well while the addition of cheekpieces could also help. She looked in good order and can yet improve on this.

Johnny Yuma finally put his best hoof forward to claim the W, this hugely robust animal travelling much the best and putting it to bed without showing any quirks that have undermined him in the past.

The mares novice hurdle was a match with the market correctly calling it the way of  Miss Delighted, who backed up her Haydock victory over 3m showing a fine attitude in the process.

Still quite backward physically, the Getaway filly will be one to keep onside when she's strengthened up next season and she clearly has plenty of stamina.

The form is nothing to get carried away with as it stands, second placed Would You Bypass putting in good late work with the fourth Jupiters Ways having not shown a great deal thus far either.

Disappointment was Etamine Du Cochet, but the Skelton mare has long since failed to impress with her weak finishing and she found nil after climbing the hill, her wind not being the best.

Solo Saxaphone was unopposable in the next after Wetherby's facile win but he made hard work of it after being allowed an easy passage between the final two flights, his lead being whittled down at the end.

There were one or two to take out of this, Becky The Thatcher showing better form and probably poised to strike now over further, while Saint Freule was outpaced before staying on again and this is probably his trip albeit on much softer ground.

The Vocalist has changed hands in the past but looks the type to prosper over hurdles in due course, lacking the size for a fence. She ran okay and will be placed to good effect.

On a great day for favourite backers it was very hard to oppose the progressive Prince Dundee in a dreadful handicap chase that featured many of the Usual Suspects.

Taken to the front at an early stage on the back of a breakthrough win here three weeks ago, defeat never looked a possibility particularly as he had looked much better in the paddock this time having come on bundles.

The other unexposed sort in the race was stablemate Exit To Where and he looked a fair sort beforehand albeit looking immature mentally.

He tanked round behind the winner jumping notably well, getting outpaced climbing the hill before staying on to good effect. The switch to fences at this early stage was clearly a good move and he may well go on from this.

The hunter chase saw Sausalito Sunrise return to winning ways despite not appearing to be happy on the ground and possibly the track at various stages, eventually getting on top before the last and holding the late challenge of market rival Ravished, who looked in good heart and stayed on again late.

The bumper was a fair race of its type with some decent looking sorts, Black Ebony among them but he looked to be carrying plenty of condition some eight or so weeks after debuting at Kelso and that possibly showed on the run to the line.

There was little wrong with the fitness of Shanroe and the mount of D Jacob was surprisingly overlooked in the market despite having run to a fair standard at Ludlow.

Miah Grace filled out the places and she was unable to make the most of her age and sex allowance, but she's a fair sort with size and scope and probably just lacks strength at this time.

Money came for State Vision but he looked big and backard, albeit clearly a decent type for the future, while Holme Abbey has already been exposed as a bit paceless and this big chasing type will require a trip when sent over timber.

Of the others, Fair Lady and Teescomponentstrig showed enough both before and during the race to suggest they have more than enough ability to be competitive in weaker races than this.