Alan Dudman heads to the north east on Tuesday evening where he has two win selections for the card at Hexham...
"He's the oldest in the field as a 12-year-old, but he could be gifted the lead in the race. He wants to be handy and he needs fast ground. So those two factors alone makes him interesting."
Back Back To Balloo @ 8.07/1 in the 21:00 at Hexham
Rhythm looks a sound bet on quicker ground
18:30 Hexham - Back Rhythm Of Sound @ 4.507/2
I can't resist a couple of punts at one of my favourite tracks and this handicap chase might not take an awful lot of winning.
And for that reason, Rhythm Of Sound looks a bet to me following a break of 139 days.
He's certainly well treated on his old hurdling form, but crucially this horse looks as though he wants summer ground. His last effort was back in January, so maybe he's been kept for the improved weather.
The grade is 0-100, and Rhythm Of Sound bolted up at that level when scoring at Leicester in November. They went a sound gallop in that (on good to firm) and he found plenty to win going away.
His mark of 81 still appeals.
Time to back Balloo for team Winks
21:00 Hexham - Back Back To Balloo @ 8.07/1
The combination of Peter and Ryan Winks can hopefully hit their straps on Tuesday evening with Back To Balloo - and as a previous winner over course and distance around Hexham, he comes firmly into the picture as a bet.
He's the oldest in the field as a 12-year-old, but he could be gifted the lead in the race. He wants to be handy and he needs fast ground. So those two factors alone makes him interesting.
Back To Balloo last won in June 2017 - when he bolted up at the track by 14 lengths. He scored then from a mark of 105, and his mark has tumbled down to 97 today.
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