Betfred Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 4m 55.0s

Bollin Ace^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: T D Easterby| OR: 132

9/2

Won a novices' hurdle qualifier here last month by a street and followed-up over C&D next time under a penalty, before going handicapping at Newcastle last week. Was in front when falling at the last there, although arguable whether he would have beaten the winner. Up 4lb but looks a leading player.

Form: 6311F2

Mr Clarkson¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: David Noonan⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 130

6/1

Well placed to win three of his five starts, including a 2m1f qualifier here (soft) last month. Well beaten under a penalty at Sandown last time and makes his handicap debut here from a mark of 130. Entitled to be involved.

Form: 62

Dear Sire^h²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 118

7/2

Jumping was all over the place at Musselburgh last time, where today's pilot performed miracles to keep the partnership intact and win by 5L in a maiden. Up just 1lb for that, which came on good ground. Would be very interesting from this mark if more fluent over the obstacles.

Form: 46141-5

Crackdeloust³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 115

2/1

Looks a lovely chaser in the making and hasn't really had everything in his favour over hurdles so far, either trip or ground-wise. This looks much more like it, with better conditions and 2m4f likely to be ideal, while he gets in from what looks a decent mark for this handicap debut.

Form: 2/43251-

Reverant Cust^t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Finian O'Toole⁽⁵⁾| T: P Atkinson| OR: 113

11/2

Showed that there is stamina in the locker when scoring on heavy ground over the minimum trip at Newcastle a couple of starts back, when he kept on strongly. Decent handicap intro back there under same conditions last time. Not yet raced on a sound surface, so has to prove he goes as well on it.

Form: 76-

Indy Island^p1¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: A E Lynch| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 108

22/1

Interesting contender given recent controversies over Irish runner in British handicaps, although she looks fairly treated given her novices' run here last time over C&D (soft). Cheek pieces added today and no surprise if supported.

Form: 641026

Non-Runners

Justforjames¹¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 8

T: Micky Hammond J: Mr Joe Wright

Forecasts

Crackdeloust (2/1), Dear Sire (7/2), Bollin Ace (9/2), Reverant Cust (11/2), Mr Clarkson (6/1), Justforjames (14/1), Indy Island (22/1)

You don't get many hurdles of this class at Sedgefield and this is a very interesting contest where CRACKDELOUST is suggested. Brian Ellison thinks plenty of this gelding, who has looked in need of today's distance and conditions and he can take advantage of what looks a potentially favourable mark. Bollin Ace and Mr Clarkson are both proven winners, though they have to shoulder the burden of that, while Indy Island is of particular interest and after a sighter here last time, she may be another Irish runner who looks well handicapped after this.