17:05 Sedgefield
Thursday 23 February 2017
All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05
Multibond Solutions Handicap Chase
- 5YO plus  |  Class 5  |  2m 3f 65y  |  Heavy  |  8 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 17:05Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 5m 37.80s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Was placed on his most recent start at Towcester (3m) earlier this month, but that was a distant third after struggling throughout, and that form looks very moderate with runner up Try It Sometime running a dismal race at Ffos Las on Sunday. First time cheek-pieces are added to supplement his regular tongue strap.
Made the mammoth journey to Newton Abbot for his maiden hurdle success in July 2016 (2/1fav), but struggled in two starts in handicap hurdles later that month. Has returned over fences this campaign without any showing in three starts so far since mid December. Declining chase mark (96), but with good reason.
Notched a first career success under rules at the 20th attempt last time over this course at the slightly longer trip of 2m5f. Whilst that success came in a weak race, and he's been raised 9lb, he dispatched What A Dream with great gusto, and significant rainfall will be a major plus to his chances of a follow up over this reduced trip.
Fell heavily at the sixth last time in the race won by King Of The Dark so needs to prove that there are no ill effects after that experience. An 18 race maiden, it's fair to say that he's far from the most consistent, but enters calculations on his Boxing Day C&D second to Attimo.
Both career successes came at Ayr (back-to-back) over 2m4f in the early part of the 2015/16 campaign, and he's not exactly troubled the judge in nine starts since. No reason to expect him to reverse placings with King Of The Dark despite today's better terms.
Absent since November 2016, having been taken out of an intended engagement at this track recently (race won by King Of The Dark), and whilst placed over fences from noticeably higher marks in 2015 has plenty to prove on his three runs during 2016.
Course winner in November 2016 (2m), but yet to race over this trip in his lengthy career, and predominately a sprinter in his days on the Flat, so he's unlikely to find this new experience helpful.
Sole success over fences came at this track in February 2016 (beating Roxyfet by half a length), but yet to convince that this is his trip on limited evidence to date, including when third over C&D in March 2016 to Runswick Relax.
Forecasts
King Of The Dark (9/4), Banny's Lad (9/2), The Omen (7/1), Winston Churchill (7/1), What A Dream (7/1), Alchimix (8/1), Captain Sharpe (17/2), Spread Boy (16/1)
A typical low grade handicap chase for the track to round off the card, with the runners set to encounter the worst of the ground if the forecast overnight deluge arrives. Such is the unpredictability of these type of horses, it's difficult to form solid judgements, but KING OF THE DARK must have an outstanding chance of following up his recent course success against similar rivals, but it's also worth bearing in mind that it took him 20 races under rules (at the age of ten) to get off the mark, so he's hardly what you could call progressive.
1. King Of The Dark
2. What A Dream
3. Captain Sharpe
Prize Money
1st: £3,249.002nd: £954.003rd: £477.004th: £238.00
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