HEXHAM'S opening race lacks any noticeable strength-in-depth with the possible exception of the Tom George-trained five-year-old, Baby Bonnett (2.35), writes COLIN WOODS (JANUS).

Having shown a modicum of promise when finishing mid-field on her first couple of outings, Baby Bonnett then moved much closer to occupying the magical number one slot when second at Exeter.

Crucially George's raider made a couple of bad blunders in the west-country, sloppy jumping which if tidied up for today's two-mile test should enable the mare to get off the mark on only her fourth start.

A few hefty bets went astray when Barney (3.10) narrowly failed to justify joint-favouritism in what was quite a decent contest by Sedgefield's standards 31 days ago.

Evelyn Slack's representative seems in good heart and given the fact he generally comes good about this time of year, there's every hope he can notch career success number three in the North East Profiling Handicap Hurdle.

It's been a long road back to recovery for Headliner (4.20), scheduled to make his return to action in the Hay & Kilner Handicap Hurdle after a frustrating absence of well over two years.

Leading owner, David Johnson, whose green and blue colours have so often been carried to victory at the Cheltenham Festival, now finds himself swimming in far shallower waters with Headliner.

There's a possibility the chestnut is going to be ring-rusty but the horse is thrown in at the weights and should by rights win.