4:10 Hexham
This Class 4 handicap hurdle at Hexham over 2m7f63y on good ground brings together eight runners, several of whom arrive in decent nick yet with questions to answer over the trip and at the venue. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Billy Boi Blue edging it on 67, just ahead of Campaign Trail on 65, Supreme Yeats on 60 and Pinot Rouge on 58. Overall the numbers point to a competitive renewal where course knowledge, trip suitability and yard form at Hexham will carry plenty of weight.
How the race shapes up
With a mix of run-styles on show and no obvious front-runner dominating the pace shape, the race is expected to be run at a sensible gallop early on before the tempo lifts from the back straight. Several principals have been campaigned over longer trips recently and will be looking to settle into a rhythm before pouncing, while those with course form may try to use their knowledge to edge into the picture from mid-division. The key question is whether the drop back in trip for some of the higher-rated runners will prove a positive or if the Hexham specialists can capitalise on their familiarity with the track.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Billy Boi Blue KTB Selection67/100Smart performer who arrives in modest recent form after three pulled-ups and a lacklustre return.
- 2Campaign Trail65/100Smart performer who won last time out and arrives in good form.
- 3Supreme Yeats60/100Smart performer who arrives in excellent order after two recent wins.
- 4Pinot Rouge58/100Smart performer who has won over this trip and at this track.
- 5Divilabother53/100Divilabother is a useful performer who has won once and placed twice from five runs at Hexham.
- 6Lets Mingle51/100Smart performer who has shown consistent form this year and arrives here in good order after a solid third last time.
- 7Wee Alki50/100Wee Alki is a useful performer who knows this track well having won two of his seven starts here.
- 8Beny Nahar Road49/100Useful performer who has run well in two starts at this track without winning.
The contenders
Billy Boi Blue KTB Fit 67/100
Billy Boi Blue is a smart performer who arrives in modest recent form after three pulled-ups and a lacklustre return. He drops back from 3m1f to a trip he has won twice from nine starts while the yard’s 67% strike rate at Hexham catches the eye. David Bass is still seeking a first winner here from 12 rides and the nine-year-old has only one win from nine runs on good ground. The drop in class is another positive for a horse who has shown smart form in the past. Connections will be hoping the return to a more suitable distance sparks a revival on this surface.
Campaign Trail KTB Fit 65/100
Campaign Trail is a smart performer who won last time out and arrives in good form. He drops back in trip from 3m1f having been placed without winning at this distance, while three wins from ten runs on good ground suggest the surface will suit. This is his first run at Hexham for a yard with no course record, though the jockey has struck at 18% here from 11 rides. The six-year-old looked progressive when successful last time and should go well if he handles the track. His overall profile makes him one of the main dangers in a race where recent winners are to the fore.
Supreme Yeats KTB Fit 60/100
Supreme Yeats is a smart performer who arrives in excellent order after two recent wins. He drops back from 3m2f to a trip he has won over twice from seven starts while his record on good ground reads a solid five wins from 23 runs. Both trainer and jockey have strong Hexham records with respective strike rates of 27 percent and 33 percent though this is the horse's first run at the track. The Dan Skelton and Harry Skelton combination is always to be respected, and the ten-year-old looks sure to go close if his current vein of form continues. He has plenty in his favour on paper.
Pinot Rouge KTB Fit 58/100
Pinot Rouge is a smart performer who has won over this trip and at this track. Recent form has been patchy with three falls from his last seven starts and he was well held on his return last time. He drops back from beyond 3m today having placed just once in four runs on good ground. The yard’s modest strike rate at Hexham is offset by the fact that the eight-year-old knows the venue well. Dropping in class should help, and if he can avoid mishaps he may be capable of a bold show given his course-and-distance ability.
The rest of the field
DivilabotherKTB Fit 53/100
Divilabother is a useful performer who has won once and placed twice from five runs at Hexham. He steps up in trip today having been placed both starts at this distance without winning, and his record on good ground reads just one win from eleven runs though he has placed another six times. The yard holds a solid 18% strike rate here while the jockey is operating at a more modest 9%.
Lets MingleKTB Fit 51/100
Lets Mingle is a smart performer who has shown consistent form this year and arrives here in good order after a solid third last time. He steps up in trip having already placed at this distance and looks suited by good ground with a win and two places from four starts on it. Lucinda Russell has a respectable 16% strike rate at Hexham while Jack Power is less proven with a 7% record from 15 rides here.
Wee AlkiKTB Fit 50/100
Wee Alki is a useful performer who knows this track well having won two of his seven starts here. He has been in decent form this year with a win and two seconds from his last four completed starts though he was pulled up on his most recent outing. The drop back from 3m1f looks a positive given his two wins from nine runs at today's trip while the yard and jockey both have modest records at Hexham.
Beny Nahar RoadKTB Fit 49/100
Beny Nahar Road is a useful performer who has run well in two starts at this track without winning. Recent form is patchy and the sole attempt at this trip brought no joy. Trainer and jockey both sit on 11% strike rates here from big samples.
KTB verdict
Billy Boi Blue is the KTB Selection. He may have been struggling of late but the drop back to a trip he has won twice before, allied to his trainer’s exceptional 67% strike rate at Hexham, gives him every chance of bouncing back in a race where several have something to prove. Supreme Yeats and Campaign Trail both arrive in excellent order and are respected, the former boasting strong trainer and jockey Hexham figures while the latter is a recent winner who handles good ground. Pinot Rouge cannot be entirely dismissed either given his course-and-distance success, though his recent falls and modest return temper enthusiasm somewhat.
KTB Selection Billy Boi Blue
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:02 UTC, 13 Jun. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Billy Boi Blue | 14/1 | Bet365 |
| Campaign Trail | 2/1 | William Hill |
| Supreme Yeats | 5/2 | Bet365 |
| Pinot Rouge | 10/1 | 7Bet |
| Divilabother | 7/1 | William Hill |
| Lets Mingle | 8/1 | 7Bet |
| Wee Alki | 8/1 | Bet365 |
| Beny Nahar Road | 16/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 4:10 Hexham. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Hexham racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest trainer record at Hexham?
Billy Boi Blue’s trainer has a 67% strike rate at Hexham from 6 runs with an A/E of 1.46.
How many wins has Supreme Yeats recorded on good ground?
Supreme Yeats has 5 wins from 23 runs on good ground.
Which runners have previous winning form at this track?
Pinot Rouge, Divilabother and Wee Alki have all won at Hexham.
What is Campaign Trail’s record on good ground?
Campaign Trail has 3 wins from 10 runs on good ground with 7 places.
Who are the leading trainer and jockey combination at Hexham in this field?
Dan Skelton has a 27% strike rate at Hexham and Harry Skelton a 33% strike rate at the track.
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