18:30 Sedgefield
Thursday 4 May 2017
All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30
WPS Refurbishes Durham Edition Bar Handicap Hurdle
- 4YO plus | Class 5 | 2m 178y | Good (Good to Firm in places) | 10 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 3m 56.90s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Well suited by Hexham (Class 3 handicap hurdle winner there in June 2014), and performed with credit at the Northumberland track last month in finishing fourth to Beyondtemptation. 1lb lower with a capable claimer booked holds a chance despite the burden of top-weight and a drop in trip.
Previous dual course winner over hurdles during 2015, but has regressed quickly this term since a fair 6L runners up effort behind Mixboy over fences in September. A return to hurdles is yet to rekindle his spirit, but his current mark of 101 is now 13lb lower than it was in January.
In decent shape between January and March 2016, winning from a mark of 97 at Doncaster (2m good to soft), but ended that campaign out of form and has been unable to pick up the batten since returning in January. Dropped 4lb since his last start and with the headgear ditched, it's a guessing game as to which Quill Art will show up tonight.
Twice a winner since November 2016, but most recently on his penultimate start over 2m4f here last month (beat the heavily backed Icanmotor a neck). Fell at the fifth when bidding to follow up and remains 7lb higher, with this shorter trip holding no fears.
Fifteen race maiden, but went under by less than 3L to Civil Unrest (on his first start in almost three months) at this track in mid April. 2lb higher, but has ran well from marks notching 100 previously and not discounted tonight.
Landed a gamble when scoring on deep ground at Newcastle (2m4f) in early March, and backed that up with a fair second (beaten favourite) at Hexham nine days later. This 2m trip appears plenty short enough and also has other questions to answer regarding the ground.
Feasibly might have needed her recent comeback at Carlisle (from an eight month break) so it's a surprise to see the handicapper drop her 6lb despite a rather low-key effort. Others are preferred nevertheless.
Ten race maiden who probably ran a career best when fifth of ten Aly's Rock in a mares handicap hurdle here in January. She's not raced over hurdles since (beaten on Tapeta), and this is just her fourth start for this yard, so not one to totally give up on just yet.
Longstanding maiden who tends to find little off the bridle, but he has been placed in a few low grade events, including in a truly farcical contest at Newcastle in March. Like Mitcd (same race) hit the deck here latest and needs to bounce back.
Plenty of letters in his recent Point-to-Point form and unseated rider when hampered by the fall of Hey Bob here over hurdles last month. Rated a mere 69 over hurdles, and astonishingly was rated just 2lb lower (67) when last in action on the Flat in June 2016 (for David Dennis).
Non-Runners
3
Thepremierbroker188
Weight: 11-12| Age: 6
T: J Candlish J: Sean Quinlan
NR
Forecasts
Four Mile Beach (7/2), Bell Weir (4/1), Prince Khurram (5/1), Mitcd (7/1), Knocknamona (7/1), Thepremierbroker (7/1), Hey Bob (9/1), Quill Art (9/1), Roja Dove (16/1), Prairie Impulse (40/1), Dylan's Storm (40/1)
Mitcd must go close if producing the sort of form that saw her down the heavily backed Icanmotor here over 2m4f last month. Her ability to handle this shorter trip has already been proven around Musselburgh and this race won't take much winning despite a 7lb rise. However, the increasingly well handicapped BELL WEIR catches the eye in this grade (won a Class 3 event at Hexham in 2014), and any sustained market support for the Ken Slack trained grey should be followed.
- Bell Weir
- Mitcd
- Quill Art
Prize Money
1st: £3,249.002nd: £954.003rd: £477.004th: £238.00
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