Truckers Cruising looks ready to set sail again for infrequent Hexham visitor Gordon Elliott

Gordon Elliott has saddled eight winners from 36 runners at Hexham and another eight took second. However, only one of those representatives have come in the past five seasons and it’s evident that he has become an increasingly infrequent visitor to the Northumberland course.

Punters should therefore take note now that he returns with two runners and Truckers Cruising has an outstanding chance of giving the trainer a winner in this handicap chase.

The lightly raced seven-year-old returns to England just nine days after landing a handicap chase at Ayr and he was so strong at the finish on heavy ground that day.

Truckers Cruising ran the final furlong more than two and a half lengths quicker than runner-up Heads Or Harps and that strongly suggests that going up another three and a half furlongs in trip will bring enough improvement for him to defy a 7lb penalty for that success.

This will be only Truckers Cruising’s third run over fences and rider Carl Millar takes 5lb off his back. That reduces the extra weight and this three-mile point winner should be too strong

The main danger is Orkney Blue, who caught the eye with a strong finish of his own on his chasing debut at Kelso last month. He ran the final furlong fourth quickest of the nine contenders that day, despite finishing only sixth, but that was over a lot further than this trip.

Orkney Blue was held up on that occasion and it will be fascinating to see if connections change tactics in a bid to maximise his proven stamina now he's down three and a half furlongs in distance. Whatever the case, he looks certain to improve on his second chase start.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

Going report

The ground is heavy and the clerk of the course, James Armstrong, said: "We had 34mm of rain on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and then another 4mm on Monday night. It's heavy and proper winter ground, but it's raceable and I'm optimistic we'll be fine for racing as long as we miss the showers, which we're forecast to miss."

What they say

Nick Alexander, trainer of Orkney Blue
His form is very solid and he was second to a good horse [Hollygrove Cha Cha] in a bumper at the track. The two-and-a-half miles on heavy ground should be fine for him.

Gary Hanmer, trainer of Heeztheboy
He's in great form and we're hoping for a good run. He seems to be thriving at the moment and the change of scenery has helped him. The ground and trip won't be a problem, we'll just have to see about the opposition. He's been creeping up the weights but hopefully the handicapper hasn't got hold of him yet.

Sam England, trainer of King Of Cong
I think we've got the Irish horse [Truckers Cruising] to beat but he's in good form. He'll like the course, the ground shouldn't be a problem and he's run well in his last two races. Hopefully he can be competitive.
Reporting by James Stevens

By Daniel Hill

1. Trainer Warren Greatrex looks to have a great chance of continuing his fine run when Golan Loop lines up in the 3m1f handicap chase at Hereford (2.05). Greatrex has had six winners from 16 runners in the past fortnight, and Golan Loop performed encouragingly on his chasing debut when second at Southwell last month, jumping soundly. The five-year-old, a winner over hurdles, hails from the Irish pointing field and his future lies over fences. 

2. You need to look a surprisingly long way down the jockeys' standings before you arrive at Jonjo O'Neill Jr's name, a consequence of the poor form of the O'Neill stable. However, things are looking more positive for the rider, with four winners from 15 mounts in the past fortnight, and the form of Jonjo and A J O'Neill is also on the up. This bodes well for the chances of Onefournine today, who makes her rules debut in the 1m7½f maiden hurdle at Leicester (1.15). A winning Irish pointer, Onefournine was purchased for £170,000 in November 2024 and is bred for jumping, her dam being a sister to decent staying chaser Idle Talk. She should relish the testing ground.

3. Can You Hear Me caught the eye of race readers when finishing well to grab second behind the exciting Minella Marathon in a novice hurdle at Lingfield last month. Jumping hasn't come easy to the four-year-old, who fell at Worcester on his hurdling debut in October, and he also put in some untidy leaps at Lingfield. However, he undoubtedly has potential, and his progress should be monitored in the 2m3½f maiden hurdle at Hereford (1.35), which may not take much winning.

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