Present a Hexham Gift

Everyone has an idea of which trainers they believe are capable of improving a horse, whether on the Flat or over jumps, but the big success stories often come from unexpected places, such as the meteoric rise of Hunt Ball who had been cast out by at least one renowned judge before scaling unheard of heights for the then-unknown Kieran Burke. On a similar note, one of the most remarkable successes of the past Flat season has been the improvement found by the remarkable Bondi Beach Boy, who was officially rated just 41 when winning at Catterick in May, but ended the campaign with a mark in the 80s after adding another half dozen wins, all in handicap company. Such a transformation used to be the sole preserve of the late David Chapman, but the man responsible for this training feat was the unassuming dual-purpose handler Jim Turner, who has been training for almost thirty years without creating much of a stir.

Turner's record is not one to be sniffed at, however, and while he has always been low on numbers, his strike-rate under both codes in the last year has been remarkable. Not only can he boast a 44% record on the Flat this year, but he's also three from four over fences this jumps campaign, and can improve that record further when Local Present contests the 15:25 at Hexham. The selection was a winner at Fakenham for Brian Ellison, but often promised more than he delivered for that yard, and had become the type to tread warily with. A switch to Turner's Norton-le-Clay yard seems to have done him good, however, and the bold move to drop this often lazy sort to the minimum trip paid immediate dividends when winning over C&D last month.

Local Present remains very well treated on his best form, and while he's never been one to rely on, it's more than possible that this moody character has been sweetened up by the unusual routine at his new yard, and with all of his rivals today arriving on the back of poor runs, he looks much too good to ignore at current odds.

At Musselburgh, there is a growing move behind Population in the two mile handicap hurdle at 14:35, and the drop to this trip on fast ground looks just what this dual bumper winner needs if his career to date is a guide. That said, he didn't convince me with either his hurdling (inclined to back off his obstacles) or his application under pressure when third to Le Reve at Market Rasen in February. His previous second to a hard held My Tent Or Yours at Huntingdon is inclined to flatter him, and he's worth opposing with recent Ascot winner Willow's Saviour.

The latter needs to prove that he can cope with the drop in trip after winning over further at the weekend on debut for Dan Skelton, but the way he tanked through that contest suggested that a faster pace would actually benefit him, and he was able to be eased heavily having had the race wrapped up before the last. Full value for at least twelve lengths there, he looks thrown in under a mandatory penalty, and can gain back-to-back wins for his upwardly mobile handler.

Recommendations:

Back Local Present @ [3.85] in the 15:25 Hexham (NAP)

Back Willow's Saviour @ [4.0] in the 14:35 Musselburgh (NB)