Monfin Girl looks set for winning start to the season at Hexham

THE Northern Area season gets under way with today’s Border fixture at Hexham Racecourse, which has 56 entries on a six-race card starting at 12.30pm.

- By PETER BURGON

The opening 3m Northern Area Conditions Race is a competitive-looking affair with eight of the 12 entries rated 92 and above.

Monfin Girl made a winning debut in an t-runner 3m Inchydoney Mares Maiden in May, and that form was given a boost when the third that day Miss Chipley got off the mark at Loughrea seven weeks ago. Having subsequently joined Joe O'Shea's yard, the six-year-old is sure to be fully tuned up for her reappearance.

Of the others, Amma Lord acts well on soft ground and has won first time out in two of the last three seasons at Hutton Rudby and Friars Haugh; Not The Chablis won Conditions Races at the Jedforest and College Valley fixtures last term and is another one who likes plenty of cut; while the Lucinda Russell+trained gelding Whatdeawant should also be in the mix if reproducing the form shown when beating Amma Lord at Friars Haugh in March.

The 12 entries for the 3m Maiden Race are headed by 103-rated hurdler Mister Frostie. Joe Wright's new recruit is back in calmer waters here after shaping with promise in Maiden Hurdles at the likes of Fairyhouse, Navan and Punchestown last season from Colin McBratney's yard.

The main dangers are likely to be Jimmy Walton's lightly raced mare