14:20 Sedgefield

Sunday 5 March 2017

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

Barca Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 7m 17.47s

Askamore Darsi^b³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 110

10/1

Looks a shadow of the horse that won three races last winter. Best watched until showing something to suggest he is on the way back.

Form: 5PP513-

Jac The Legend^v²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr Kaine Wood⁽⁷⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 109

10/3

Trainer's runners here are always worth a second look. C&D winner in October 2015 but has drawn a blank since. Gets the extreme trip he needs and better handicapped over hurdles nowadays following some decent placed efforts over fences. Looks one paced though and others are preferred.

Form: 035810-

More Than Luck^p²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁷⁾| T: S Thomas| OR: 106

25/1

Looked one paced last time and handicapper seems to have seen more ability than has been apparent thus far.

Form: P5774P-

Joseph Mercer^v²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: A Nicol| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 102

7/2

Impressive winner of his last two having improved vastly for the fitting of a visor. Up another 12lb for a wide margin success last time and that may not be enough to halt his progress. Local stable took this with another veteran in 2014.

Form: 545P-PP

Nail 'm⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Danny Cook| T: N J Hawke| OR: 97

7/1

Has won over this trip here over fences. Has form in the book to suggest he could be competitive off this mark. Those efforts have usually followed a more promising run than will be the case here.

Form: 532-U63

American Life^t,v¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 91

5/1

Career record of 9-87 shows how hardy he is. Needs an extreme trip nowadays as he tends to hit a flat spot during his races before staying on at the finish. Stable have been doing well on their recent forays North and come to a venue where they are 3-6. Handicapper has given him a helping hand too.

Form: 5F442P

Acadian^p,h²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 85

15/2

Yet to open his account over hurdles in 18 attempts. Has 14L to find with Joseph Mercer and is now 12lb better off. That rival won with a lot more in hand than the figures suggest and hard to see him turning things around.

Form: P53244

Longueville Flier⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 85

25/1

Lightly campaigned since his last win in November 2015. Has not shown much in those races and usual hood is left off. Yard took this last year but currently going through a quiet spell.

Form: P9P698-

Dance And Romance^t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: B S Hughes| T: T D Easterby| OR: 83

9/1

Offered a bit more when stepped up to this trip last time. Could have more to offer and a 20lb pull with Joseph Mercer for 11L may help her find it. Should reach a place at least.

Form: 48453-0

Forecasts

Jac The Legend (10/3), Joseph Mercer (7/2), American Life (5/1), Nail 'm (7/1), Acadian (15/2), Dance And Romance (9/1), Askamore Darsi (10/1), Longueville Flier (25/1), More Than Luck (25/1)

A 12lb rise in the weights may not be enough to stop JOSEPH MERCER in his hat-trick bid. He has made all to win his last two races with plenty in hand and he meets a few of his recent vanquished rivals again here. The pick of these is Dance And Romance who gets a big pull for the flattering 11L she has to find with him on running a month ago. American Life has a tendency to drop himself out of races before plugging on. He can ill afford to give the selection a head start and he may also prefer a stiffer track than this.

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