POINT TO POINT
ALL roads lead to Hexham Racecourse for today’s Haydon fixture, the grand finale of the Northern Area season.
It has attracted 79 entries on a seven-race card starting at 2.00.
After finishing unplaced in both Alnwick Flat Races earlier in the year, Easter With Yeats took a big step in the right direction when runner-up to ex-hurdler Santon on his debut over fences at Tranwell.
He was doing all his best work in the closing stages that day and the step up in trip in the 3m1f Carrs Billington Maiden Conditions Race will be in his favour.
The former Tom George-trained gelding Black Op is the class act in the J S Hubbuck Ltd Men’s Open Race.
He finished sixth in the 2020 King George VI Chase and seventh in the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup behind Minella Indo before joining Selby handler Emma Clark ten weeks ago.
The 11-year-old wasn’t extended to beat Monbeg Chit Chat by 25 lengths at Corbridge on his first appearance for her yard and cannot be opposed here off level weights.
The battle for the minor placings should chiefly concern Cooking Fat and Frankies Fire who have shown their best form on a sound surface.
Confirmed front-runner Vent D’Automne has won four of his five completed starts this season with the only reverse coming at Corbridge where Lily Frank kicked for home too early and the former Willie Mullins-trained gelding was collared near the finish by Oscar Wilde.
The pair re-oppose on the same terms in the DJ & SJ Recycling Ladies’ Open Race and I expect Frank’s mount to gain sweet revenge.
Ballydonagh Boy has been rejuvenated this term by the drop in grade between the flags.
Cherry Coward’s charge boasts recent form figures of 113211 on ground varying from good to heavy and has no stamina issues.
He had plenty in hand when beating Fairy Mix by three lengths at Corbridge and is fancied to strike gold again in the Robson Contracting Eight-years-old and Over Conditions Race from Fivecardstud.
Nothing stands out in the Lycetts Insurance Brokers Conditions Race in which 11 of the 16 entries are rated between 89 and 97.
It may pay to take a chance with Okey Dokey, who posted a careerbest effort when making all to beat Dream Over at Overton.
Warwickshire-based champion trainer Tom Ellis has already sent out 59 winners this season and Young Rich can add to that impressive tally in the Insync Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic Restricted Race.
He only weakened on the run-in when second to Special Buddy over a shorter trip at Mollington last time and that form is superior to anything shown so far by any of the other eight entries.