15:40 Sedgefield

Thursday 2 November 2017

All13:0013:3014:0514:3515:1015:4016:10

ABF & SSAFA Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 4m 48.42s

Miss Spent^t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 115| D

5/1

Scored over today's trip at Uttoxeter on her first start for this trainer in July, when 9lb lower. Ran well in Listed company when last seen at Kempton over 2m, This is not as tough and with conditions to suit she has claims.

Form: 5-124P3

Beyondtemptation^h,t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Dowson⁽⁵⁾| T: J C Haynes| OR: 112| C| D

33/1

Won at Hexham and Newcastle over this trip (both on good) in April/May, before the assessor put a spanner in the works. Now back to a much more realistic mark and on better ground, we could see a return to form.

Form: 80853P

Sophie Olivia⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Todhunter| OR: 110| BF

12/1

Was a wide margin winner of a Hexham novices' hurdle (2m, good to soft) in September, and matched that with a good run under a penalty last time. Up a further 6lb for her handicap debut, making this look a tough enough assignment.

Form: 4632-12

Black Tulip¹⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: H D Daly| OR: 109

11/1

Improved when stepped up to 2m6f at Stratford in May, winning by 9L on her handicap debut. Also ran with credit on only start since then when a 3½L runner-up at Aintree (2m4f, good) from 2lb lower than today. Open to further progress. Interesting.

Form: 944-12

Undefined Beauty⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 107

6/4

Has come on since joining this trainer, going very close first time at Warwick (2m, good) and then winning comfortably at Southwell (1m7½f, good) last time. Escapes a penalty for that and return to this trip ought to suit. Claims.

Form: 0-70021

My Betty²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: D R Fox| T: P Croke| OR: 107| D

25/1

Scored over a similar trip on good ground as a novice some years ago, though her only other win came in a 2m chase last year. Recent form suggests that she is in the grip of the handicapper from today's mark.

Form: F36765

Mo Chailin²⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 106

18/1

1-14, that success being at Catterick last year (1m7½f, soft). Has some decent form over this trip and at this track and she can also go well when fresh. Not ruled out from looks to be a very competitive mark.

Form: 72336P-

Wide Awake²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 106

40/1

Makes her handicap debut today after showing improvement in defeat in novices' company at up to 2m5f, her best effort being last time at Kelso on good ground. Marks looks stiff enough on the bare form of that run, so improvement required.

Form: 7-54

Floramoss²¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Miss E Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 106

28/1

Has knocked on the door a few times without yet kicking it open, finishing in the frame in six of her nine starts. Conditions and trip no problem for her, though she certainly has a bit to prove if she is to win from today's mark.

Form: 322422-

Minnie Milan^p,t1⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: B Butterworth| OR: 105

33/1

Sees out 3m1f over hurdles and is without a win for well over two years. Now 5lb lower than that last success and in new headgear combi today, but trip is on the sharp side and others are preferred this time.

Form: PP-6584

Visage Blanc^t³⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 103

14/1

75-rated on the Flat, though yet to show commensurate ability over hurdles in three starts for this trainer in autumn of last year. May well do better for this longer trip and after having been given some time off and a market check is suggested.

Form: 635-

Theatre Act^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: B S Hughes| T: C Grant| OR: 102| C| D

16/1

Goes very well here and scored over 2m5f (good to soft) at the track in January from just 1lb lower. Has won on good, should strip fitter for a recent run and if at her best then there is a clear case to be made for her from this mark.

Form: 5135-P5

Flemerina¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 99| C

17/2

Scored here over 2m1f last year and proved her stamina beyond this trip when winning at Market Rasen (2m7f, soft) in March. 5lb higher now and this trip suits better than then beaten last time, so not ruled out although slower ground ideal.

Form: 4/4241-4

Forecasts

Undefined Beauty (6/4), Miss Spent (5/1), Flemerina (17/2), Black Tulip (11/1), Sophie Olivia (12/1), Visage Blanc (14/1), Theatre Act (16/1), Mo Chailin (18/1), My Betty (25/1), Floramoss (28/1), Minnie Milan (33/1), Beyondtemptation (33/1), Wide Awake (40/1)

Dan Skelton may again have found a good opportunity at this venue for one of his in MISS SPENT. The seven-year-old took on Listed company last time and was far from disgraced. There is still room for improvement over this distance and she might be able to outclass them. Theatre Act looks to be a potential danger for a combination that has winners here, while Visage Blanc is also interesting on her return to the racecourse. Mo Chailin and Black Tulip are others to consider, while Undefined Beauty is another who may well be on the premises at the business end.