AAZZA (5.30) will be the first runner of the new 2023/24 season for us as our sole representative at Hexham tomorrow night.
A most consistent mare, she paid a bit of a price for the wide-margin win at Doncaster back in January having been hiked up 15lbs for her two efforts since, but she showed at Carlisle last month that she’s capable of being competitive up in grade with an excellent second. The form of that race has worked out very encouragingly, with the winner a good runner-up at Perth last week, while two of the horses in behind won there over the three days.
That form looks strong now so it’s our turn to hold it up and Hexham is a track we know she likes, having won there on debut for the yard and had a few other good efforts at the course. There’s a bit of rain forecast between now and Saturday evening so we’re hoping it doesn’t get into the ground too much.
Dylan Johnston again rides, taking off 8lbs as it’s a conditionals’ race so while it’s a tricky enough race - there’s a bit of winning form in there among the sixteen runners - we’d like to think she’ll once again be very competitive.