Slowboat could thrive in the conditions

With showers forecast to fall on already heavy ground at Hexham stamina is going to be at a premium at one of the stiffest tracks in Britain and runners will be finishing in slow motion. Although Landmeafortune has yet to tackle a distance as far as the 3m he faces in the Visit attheraces.com Handicap Chase (1.15), plodding appears his forte and that could prove a real asset given the conditions.

On his last five starts, Martin Todhunter’s gelding has stayed on in the closing stages to varying degrees at trips between 2m and 2m4½f, including when making up a lot of late ground to finish second on bottomless ground over hurdles at Ayr in January.

On his reappearance and chase debut at the same track last time, Landmeafortune looked in big trouble halfway around the final circuit, but stuck to his task well enough to take a distant second. The form was given a hefty boost when the winner followed up off a 15lb higher mark from the third home, so the fact the selection has been dropped 2lb is a bonus. A neat hurdler, he jumped better the further he went last time and should be sharper for the experience.