Hexham Tips: French Highlands a contender for Russell

It's a busy start to the racing week, with six meetings taking place across Britain and Ireland on Monday. The National Hunt season draws to a close in the UK on Saturday and jumps fare on Monday comes from Ffos Las, Kempton, Tramore and Hexham.

We are focused on the Northumberland venue, with three Hexham tips on their eight-race card which runs from 14:00-17:35.

14:00 - French Highlands @ 15/2

The opening 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle over two miles is likely going to find Joker De Mai and Tedtwo dominating the betting market.

The latter won a Sedgefield novice in decisive fashion last month, taking his tally to 2-4 over hurdles and with overall figures that read 1221 over these obstacles for trainer Ben Haslam.

The former, meanwhile, was a winner at Lingfield in December and has been second in three handicaps since. He is rated 129 and, despite the drop in trip, is a leading player under owner/rider David Maxwell.

That duo set the standard, but the mare FRENCH HIGHLANDS isn't one to dismiss out of hand for Lucinda Russell.

She finished a sound third over C&D (heavy) last month on her hurdles bow, clear of the remainder in chasing home the market principles, a race from which the winner has come out and won again since.

She may ideally want to go a bit further in time but is entitled to build on that pleasing start over obstacles and can give the market leaders something to think about on these terms.

15:30 - Ballynagran @ 12/1

Three miles is the test awaiting the 10 runners in this handicap chase, and it could be a decent chance for BALLYNAGRAN to get back to winning ways.

The Jo Foster-trained nine-year-old was a winner over course and distance last May, his second success over fences, and while he has mostly struggled since, his most recent appearance at Wetherby (3m, soft) was a big step back in the right direction.

He was racing from 5lb out of the handicap that afternoon and chased home odds-on favourite Imperial Alex, an improving sort for Tom Lacey that had scored previously at Chepstow earlier in March. Ballynagran might have finished closer bar a poor jump three out.

Brian Hughes takes over in the saddle from claimer Emma Smith-Chaston now and, off his correct mark, Ballynagran should go close with a replication of that last-time-out effort.

16:30 - Paramaribo @ 5/1

PARAMARIBO was successful on the Flat last May on his final start for Iain Jardine and, after a 323-day layoff, ran a solid third at Market Rasen (2m4½f, good to soft) on first start for Victor Thompson last month.

He was held up by Roisin Leech in that contest, and they made some good late progress, though ultimately were not able to reach the front pair.

He should be fitter for that outing and had also made the frame in his previous hurdles outings at Ayr and Musselburgh last spring for Jardine. He's finished in the places in three of his six runs over timber and should be capable of picking up a prize soon from this unchanged mark of 86.

Find more Horse Racing Tips here at Betfred Insights