16:35 Sedgefield

Monday 6 February 2017

All14:0014:3515:0515:3516:0516:35

Windpower Energy Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:36 | Winning time: 4m 28.20s

Chestnut Ben¹⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-2| J: Ryan Winks⁽⁷⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 102

4/1

Well into the twilight of his career and an infrequent winner, but still capable of the odd good run when the mood takes him and latest effort when not beaten far at Musselburgh probably a good indicator of what he's capable of these days. Would prefer better ground today though, and may have to wait another day for a winning chance.

Form: 43131-3

Roxyfet¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Finian O'Toole⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 102

8/1

Rattled off a three-timer last season and mark now 5lb lower than the last of those wins, but that's due to his form tailing off badly over this winter and he's barely beaten a horse home in hios last six starts. As weak as this contest is, he needs to turn his form around quickly to have a chance, and it's hard to see why he should.

Form: 323260-

Oak Vintage¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jamie Hamilton⁽³⁾| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 98

8/1

Only had the two chase starts so far, so may improve, but in truth he needs to as he's unseated on the first of them (after taking a hold) and then finished a modest fourth at Newcastle latest. Whilst that wasn't a disaster, it needs improving on, and he needs to learn to settle better.

Form: 51P-240

Sky Full Of Stars^p⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 91

10/3

Bred to be a chaser and was well fancied to make a winning chase debut here at Sedgefield last November (backed into 7-4 favourite) but never went with any enthusiasm and was pulled up. However, showed that to be all wrong when travelling well and still in contention when falling at Ayr next time but that hasn't be reproduced in two runs since. Is probably capable of better, but still a risky proposition at present.

Form: 6311U4

Clan Chief^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 83

4/1

No win in eight chase starts but came close when second to Lowanbehold at Kelso last April, overcoming a couple of errors. Sadly, he couldn't build on that when pulled up at Worcester next time, another bad mistake his undoing, and mistakes again at Catterick on his latest start only highlight what the problem is. Not without hope if getting round error-free.

Form: 32/P4P5-

Duhallowcountry^b¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Thomas Dowson⁽⁵⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 80

15/2

Only the one win in 38 starts, but that did come over C&D last March and he has run well at Sedgefield on other occasions, such as when second to the bold-jumping Working Title here last time out. May well get his own way up front as the majority of his opponents like to be held up, and far more likely to run his race than a few here.

Form: 222176-

Captain Sharpe^b,h¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Graham Carson⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 76

5/1

Mixes hurdles and fences but an infrequent winner all the same, his best recent effort coming when third to Working Title here in December (Duhallowcountry just in front of him) and then following that up with a respectable effort behind Lady Buttons back over hurdles at Newcastle. Should run his race and can pick up some prizemoney again.

Form: 434582-

Non-Runners

Bollin Line⁵⁵

Weight: 11-4| Age: 10

T: L Egerton J: Dean Pratt

Forecasts

Sky Full Of Stars (10/3), Chestnut Ben (4/1), Clan Chief (4/1), Captain Sharpe (5/1), Duhallowcountry (15/2), Roxyfet (8/1), Oak Vintage (8/1), Bollin Line (20/1)

Nor only is this a weak event, but not one of the eight can be relied upon to run their race. Small stakes are advised. DUHALLOWCOUNTRY will be allowed a soft lead here and that might be good enough to see him take his win tally to two. He tends to save his best for Sedgefield and can score at the expense of Captain Sharpe, who chased him home last time and may well do so again. Oak Vintage can grab third if avoiding the mistakes that have blighted his chase starts so far. 1. Duhallowcountry 2. Captain Sharpe 3. Oak Vintage