13:50 Sedgefield

Tuesday 28 November 2017

All12:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:20

Betfred Racing 'Like Us On Facebook' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 21.50s

Handy Hollow^h¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 104| BF

5/1

A beaten favourite on his second start over hurdles at Hexham recently (2m maiden hurdle, soft). Solid enough overall, but lacks much in the way of size to progress further, and no surprise to see him switched to handicaps for the first time.

Form: 2233

Stoneboat Bill¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R T Dunne| T: D Carroll| OR: 104

8/1

Ran his best race over hurdles so far when finishing fourth to Jassas at Newcastle (2m good) the week before last. Better suited by a switch to handicaps, but others appeal as far more likely winners.

Form: 6584

Hear The Chimes¹⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: J M Quinlan| T: S A Harris| OR: 103| D

13/2

Has plenty of form with cut, but also ran well on good ground at Market Rasen (2m+) in May when beaten 2¼L by Too Many Diamonds. His current (sliding) mark looks just about his correct mark.

Form: 9363-24

Sleep In First⁴⁵⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 100| CD

8/1

A winner of nine races in 52 career starts, but most effective over fences. Has winning Sedgefield form in the book, but a watching brief can only be advised on his first start since August 2016; despite winning by 7L off this mark in June 2016.

Form: 7513P4-

Clondaw Banker²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 97

28/1

A 2m4f Sandown winner for Nicky Henderson, but appears to have totally lost the plot since joining this trainer. Very well treated from his current mark, but needs to show at least a small ray of light first.

Form: 04P6P8

Hartside^v²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Ryan Winks⁽⁵⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 96| D

8/1

Falling rapidly down the weights, and now 13lb lower than when last visiting Sedgefield in early October. Has the ability, albeit not the easiest horse to predict, although he could be worth chancing given his current mark.

Form: 247-899

Pertuis²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Finian O'Toole⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 93

50/1

Old timer who proved that he still had the legs for the Flat when winning at Ripon in June 2016. However, not so pleasing in 2017, and remains and 18 race maiden over hurdles, so easily ignored.

Form: 707/U76-

Main Fact^h⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 89

28/1

1m3f heavy ground Flat French maiden winner (May 2016). Shown little over hurdles for this trainer so far, but did hit the frame at sizeable odds on the Flat at Ayr last month, and now makes his handicap bow over timber.

Form: 407

Lucarno Dancer^h,t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: R Shiels| OR: 84

4/1

Landed a hefty touch (33s into 17/2) when scoring by 4½L at Hexham last month (2m soft). The handicapper has adjusted her mark upwards by 7lb which will make life tougher, but not necessarily stop her from following up.

Form: 58-2971

Christmas In Usa^t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 84

9/2

Made the frame over hurdles in France a few times when trained by Guillaume Macaire, but has yet to offer too many positive signs since switched to these shores. Fallen 21lb since March, and that's helpful.

Form: P40-6P6

Cherry Princess^t⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: B Butterworth| OR: 83

25/1

Won twice on the Flat for Stuart Williams (1m2f and 2m), and struck for the first time over hurdles when a decisive 3L winner at Hexham in September (2m good to soft). Never competitive over further off this mark (9lb higher) latest.

Form: 56P-718

Mahler Bay⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 72

33/1

An 18 race career maiden who is fast beginning to run out of excuses. Raced over fences in the main during 2017, and looks very much as if he's simply making up the numbers.

Form: 5P0467

Non-Runners

Mitcd²⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: G Bewley J: Jonathon Bewley

Forecasts

Lucarno Dancer (4/1), Christmas In Usa (9/2), Handy Hollow (5/1), Mitcd (11/2), Hear The Chimes (13/2), Sleep In First (8/1), Hartside (8/1), Stoneboat Bill (8/1), Cherry Princess (25/1), Main Fact (28/1), Clondaw Banker (28/1), Mahler Bay (33/1), Pertuis (50/1)

A race which features a few possibly interesting horses. Of the handicap debutants, Main Fact is worthy of market monitoring, whilst the top-weighted Handy Hollow should appreciate the switch to handicap company, given that he's likely to struggle to make a further mark in maiden/novice company. A sizeable shout should go out to the very dangerously handicapped (but badly out of form) Hartside, who looks worthy of an each-way interest on the off chance. However, based upon recent evidence, both Mitcd and LUCARNO DANCER are far more likely winners. Given the clear market confidence shown at Hexham last month, plenty was expected of the Ray Shiels trained seven-year-old mare, and therefore a revised mark of 84 (7lb higher) shouldn't be enough to stop her following up.