13:10 Sedgefield

Friday 12 January 2018

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

Wills Property Services Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 5m 9.50s

Witness Time^h,t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 100

25/1

Unplaced in eight starts under rules, six of them over hurdles. Failed to complete in previous two, unseating early on Boxing Day at Wetherby (2m3½f, soft) in novice handicap hurdle. Needs to up game considerably.

Form: F58-7PU

Wind Of Hope^p¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 100| D

11/2

Lost the race in the stewards' room after edging out Hit and Run over C&D on Boxing Day (soft). Frustratingly hit with a 5lb rise since, but a reproduction of that improved effort should see him go close once more.

Form: 2P-P68D

Swantykay²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 100| D

66/1

Nine-year-old has looked regressive in five starts since joining this yard. Switched back to hurdles last month at Catterick (3m1½f, good to soft) but no improvement in fortunes. Down in trip but remains hard to fancy.

Form: U64PU8

Wazowski²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 100

7/2

Record is 1-18, win coming in June 2016 over 2m at Hexham on good to soft. Has run well from this sort of mark in the past and can handle testing ground. Up in trip after credible Bangor run last month and capable of mounting a challenge.

Form: 33-3342

Main Fact^h⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 97| C

6/1

Won a Flat maiden on testing ground in France in 2016 and much-improved hurdles form on handicap debut over 2m1f here last month (soft) when travelling strongly and drawing clear for smooth 5L success. Up in distance and 8lb hike to contend with.

Form: 4071

Red Tortue^p²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 95| D

18/1

Just a third start for this yard, trainer tends to get a tune from this sort of horse. Attempted to make all over 3m at Taunton last month, but couldn't see it out and pulled up. Down in trip, not discounted.

Form: 3B3/6-5P

Short Flight²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Henry Brooke| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 91

8/1

Just the six starts under rules so far and no signs that a breakthrough success is imminent. Well held in pair of handicaps at Southwell and Newcastle, latest over 2m½f (soft), up in trip again and drops another 3lb. Work to do.

Form: 87P3-66

Pixiepot^p³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: P D Niven| OR: 90

9/2

A 13-race maiden over timber but has shaped well in two outings back from a 427-day layoff. Second of eight last time at Market Rasen (2m½f, good to soft), has run well on heavy in the past and twice went close around here in 2016, including C&D..

Form: 4/722-72

Stetchworth³²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: R Ross| OR: 89

100/1

Out of New Approach and a dual winner on the Flat (rated 82) when trained by Mark Johnston at distances up to 1mf. Not shown much in three starts over timber, makes switch to handicap now for the first time.

Form: 568-

K O Kenny⁴⁰⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: W T Kennedy| T: A Crook| OR: 89

18/1

A seven-race maiden, he's still to deliver a knockout blow. Off the track since December 2016, his fitness must be taken on trust on his handicap debut. Stamina to prove, but booking of Will Kennedy a positive sign.

Form: 544/765-

Dolly's Dot⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Mr D Delahunt⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 81

150/1

Shaped with a degree of promise in C&D novice contest in April, not exactly built on it in two runs since. Sent off 125/1 for maiden hurdle at Hexham in November in reappearance (2m, soft), now makes handicap bow with plenty improvement needed.

Form: P334P-8

Sory¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: A Nicol| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 74

8/1

Lightly-raced for one his age and his career has been blighted by lengthy absences. Kept on into mid-division over C&D on Boxing Day and gets another 3lb relief now. Career-best effort called for nonetheless.

Form: 6P8P5/7

Fiddler's Flight^h¹⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Norton| OR: 73| C

12/1

Just over 6L third of 13 over this C&D on Boxing Day, an improvement on two runs so far this season. Now 12-years-old, not certain to build on that effort.

Form: 524-703

Forecasts

Wazowski (7/2), Pixiepot (9/2), Wind Of Hope (11/2), Main Fact (6/1), Sory (8/1), Short Flight (8/1), Fiddler's Flight (12/1), Red Tortue (18/1), K O Kenny (18/1), Witness Time (25/1), Swantykay (66/1), Stetchworth (100/1), Dolly's Dot (150/1)

MAIN FACT was a tidy scorer over C&D on his handicap debut in November, making a fairly seamless race-winning challenge from two out. That was improved form on his first handicap start and he's taken to follow up now despite the 8lb hike dished out to him for that success. Pixiepot is still a maiden but she has shaped well in two starts back from a layoff and should go well again, being proven on the ground and at the track. Wind Of Hope was first past the post over C&D on Boxing Day only to lose the prize in the stewards' run, unfortunately the 5lb hike still holds, though he should be on the premises once more. Wazowski and handicap debutant K O Kenny are others worth noting.