4:55 Hexham
This Class 4 Tynedale Rfc Community Rugby Handicap Steeple Chase over 3m0f41y at Hexham serves as a Go North Red Rum Series qualifier and carries GBB Race status. A field of nine runners lines up on good ground, with the KTB Fit scores highlighting a competitive but not overwhelming contest in which four principals stand out on recent form and course connections. The KTB numbers point to a race where proven ability around Hexham and a solid record on good ground will be key assets.
How the race shapes up
With two or more habitual front-runners declared, a strong pace is likely and the confidence in that assessment is high. No Regrets, Jet Legs and Wal Buck's are all inclined to race prominently or make the running, which sets up the possibility of the pace collapsing in the latter stages. That shape would play into the hands of hold-up performers such as Getaway Vic, Jeteye, Dinons, Ribeye and Loulou Madrik, making the key question whether the prominent runners can sustain their effort or if the race will fall into the lap of a patient closer.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Getaway Vic KTB Selection74/100
Getaway Vic is a smart performer who arrives in excellent order after winning last time out and placing in three of his four previous starts. The seven-year-old is held up and usually produces his effort late, a run-style that could prove ideal given the expected strong pace. He steps up in class but boasts three wins from eight starts on good ground and the surface is expected to suit. Mickey Bowen has a 36% strike rate at Hexham from a small but effective sample while James Bowen takes the ride. The drop back from 3m2½f to this untried 3m trip asks a fresh question, yet his overall profile makes him the one to beat.
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2No Regrets67/100
No Regrets is a smart performer who has won twice at Hexham and also knows how to win at this trip. The 12-year-old tends to make the running or race on the pace, which will be a factor in a race where the pace is expected to be strong. His recent form of 48-123 shows consistency at this level and he has a solid record on good ground with three wins from 13 starts. Nicky Richards has a 23% strike rate at Hexham while Danny McMenamin, who has a 16% strike rate at the track, takes the ride. Two wins from eight starts at this course underline his strong local claims.
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3Jet Legs63/100
Jet Legs is a smart performer with a solid record around here and at this trip. The nine-year-old tends to make the running or race on the pace, adding to the anticipated strong gallop. He has won over course and distance and shown his best on good ground with two wins from six starts. Recent form is patchy but the underlying ability and course connections still count for plenty. Martin Todhunter has a 13% strike rate at Hexham while Ryan Mania, who also has a 13% strike rate at the track, is in the saddle.
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4Jeteye62/100
Jeteye is a useful performer who has won twice at this track from five runs and arrives in solid form having won three of his last six starts. Usually held up and producing his effort late, his run-style looks well suited to the likely strong pace. He steps up in class but drops back from 3m2½f to a trip where he has placed three times without winning, which looks a fair question on his record. Sam England has a 17% strike-rate here from 125 runs while Jonathan England, boasting a 15% strike rate at Hexham, takes the mount. Two course wins from five starts further enhance his claims.
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5Sledgehammer60/100
Sledgehammer is a fair performer who has shown little in recent efforts, finishing pulled up or well beaten on his last four starts. He steps up markedly in trip today having never gone beyond 2m1f, which asks a fresh question of him, while he also steps up in class. Adrian Keatley has a strong 44% strike rate from 16 runs at Hexham.
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6Dinons59/100
Dinons is a useful performer who has won twice at this track from seven runs and brings solid course connections. He steps up markedly in trip today having last run over 2m4f yet owns two wins from eight starts at this distance so the extra ground is not an unknown. Brian Hughes rides for Brian Ellison, who holds a 16% strike rate here from a big sample, and the horse has also won eight times on good ground.
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7Ribeye57/100
Ribeye is a useful 11-year-old with a solid record around Hexham, including two wins from 12 starts here, and he has also won three times from 16 starts at this trip. He has shown consistent form of late with two seconds in his last four outings and holds an above-average record on good ground. Peter Atkinson has a 14% strike rate from 42 runs at the track while Callum Bewley is aboard.
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8Wal Buck's56/100
Wal Buck's is a smart performer who has run well in defeat at this track on both previous visits. He drops back from 4m to a trip he has placed at without winning and has shown he handles good ground. Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox have modest records here but the horse arrives in solid form.
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9Loulou Madrik54/100
Loulou Madrik is a smart performer who has finished in the first three on four of his seven starts and was placed over this trip on his only attempt. He has solid course connections through the yard's healthy 17% strike rate here from a big sample. The going remains an unknown on this lightly-raced profile.
KTB verdict
Getaway Vic stands out as the KTB Selection. He arrives in excellent order after a recent win and multiple placings, his hold-up style should be perfectly suited to the strong pace that is anticipated, and the trainer's excellent record at Hexham adds further layers to his claims. No Regrets and Jet Legs bring strong course form and prominent run-styles that could see them set or share the pace, while Jeteye's two course wins and recent winning form make him another serious danger from off the pace. The race could be won or lost depending on how the front-runners hold up under pressure in the straight.
KTB Selection Getaway Vic
This is the narrative read of the 4:55 Hexham. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Hexham racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Hexham results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Hexham racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is stepping back in trip from 3m2½f?
Getaway Vic and Jeteye are both dropping back from 3m2½f.
How many course wins does No Regrets have at Hexham?
No Regrets has two course wins from eight starts at Hexham.
Which trainer has the highest strike rate at Hexham among those represented?
Adrian Keatley has a 44% strike rate at Hexham from 16 runs.
Who is the only horse with a course-and-distance win in the field?
Jet Legs has won over course and distance.
Which runner is the oldest in the field and what is its age?
Dinons is the oldest at 13 years of age.
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