15:40 Sedgefield

Sunday 28 January 2018

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:10

SIS Dylan Meale Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 37.0s

Camron De Chaillac^v²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 110

9/2

Sported a first-time visor at Taunton (2m3f, soft) in a conditionals handicap late last month when just clinging on for first hurdles win at 11th attempt. Runs from 4lb higher here, visor retained and a player if staying this distance.

Form: 27-6531

Banny's Lad²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 110| C

8/1

Stable are going well and he has scored on his last two visits to Sedgefield (2m3f+ chases). Versatile in terms of ground, but the trip is an unknown. Fencing lacked fluency latest so back over hurdles for first time since July 2016.

Form: 125-13P

Moidore^h¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: A Pogson| T: C T Pogson| OR: 109

12/1

Well weighted, but hasn't tasted success since April 2016 and isn't a horse to trust implicitly. Unseated his rider at Market Rasen latest, so it's very much back to the drawing board.

Form: 346P2U

Randy Pike²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Kaine Wood⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 108| BF| D

10/1

Sprung a surprise when winning at Market Rasen on Boxing Day, by an eased down 11L (2m4f+ soft). Raced keenly under a 7lb penalty at Musselburgh next time (disappointing), and races off a mark a further 5lb higher now.

Form: 3/98916

Oregon Gold³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: N Kent| OR: 108

20/1

Shown glimmers of promise in novice events, and it's still very much early days in handicap company. That said, he needs to take a massive step forward for win purposes, but could be capable of hitting the frame at sizeable odds.

Form: 6-6467F

Azert De Coeur³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Tony Kelly| T: R Menzies| OR: 106

10/1

Not shown any worthwhile form in a couple of starts for this trainer (formerly with Venetia Williams). However, both of those races were over fences, so shouldn't be entirely dismissed now switched back to hurdling from a falling mark.

Form: 5U2P-5P

Wazowski¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 106| C

9/2

A gritty 6L winner of a 2m4f handicap hurdle here earlier this month, this consistent and honest horse deserves immense credit for the attitude that he displays on a racecourse (has just one eye). Up 5lb, and that's no barrier to further success.

Form: 3-33421

Art Of Supremacy³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 106

12/1

Lightly raced after making just eight career starts. Formerly with Noel Meade in Ireland, this £7,000 purchase was making his stable debut at Wetherby on Boxing Day when finishing 6½L fourth to Dalaman (2m3f+). Improvement probable.

Form: 037-9P4

Dark And Dangerous^b³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁷⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 106| C

10/1

A standing dish at this Durham venue for rider Amie Waugh but unfortunately all four of those course successes have come over 2m1f. No joy over a similar trip latest, but another moderate effort won't do any harm for his handicap mark whatsoever.

Form: FP-4825

Le Drapeau³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 104

8/1

Previously with Oliver Sherwood, but sold for £11,000 in August 2017, and has looked the type to need a trip since switched to hurdling (novices). Has valuable course experience, so interesting to see how he goes now sent handicapping.

Form: 63-34

Christmas Twenty^h¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 99

12/1

A 17 race career maiden who fenced poorly, and was pulled up at Catterick in late November (2m3f), and hit the deck early next time at Market Rasen (2m5f+). Back over hurdles now, and that's a smart move based on earlier efforts for Stuart Edmunds.

Form: 6P-35PF

Diamant de L'Ouest^p1³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: C R King| T: B Ellison| OR: 99

20/1

Never involved on handicap debut (28/1) at Wetherby over the festive period. Dropped slightly in trip, down 2lb, and wears the first time cheek-pieces. Has the potential to do better with more racing experience.

Form: 89-6740

Ever So Much^p⁹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 95| C| D

10/1

Lurks from what threatens to be a highly competitive mark if able to recapture his winning hurdles and chase form from May 2016 (2m4f-2m5f). Shaped okay, but no more than that over fences here latest.

Form: 5P-6535

K O Kenny¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: W T Kennedy| T: A Crook| OR: 88

33/1

An eight-race maiden, he's still to deliver a knockout blow. Off the track since December 2016, until making his handicap debut here just over a fortnight ago, he should strip fitter now, but has a mountain to climb with Wazowski.

Form: 44/765-9

Forecasts

Camron De Chaillac (9/2), Wazowski (9/2), Le Drapeau (8/1), Banny's Lad (8/1), Dark And Dangerous (10/1), Azert De Coeur (10/1), Ever So Much (10/1), Randy Pike (10/1), Christmas Twenty (12/1), Moidore (12/1), Art Of Supremacy (12/1), Oregon Gold (20/1), Diamant de L'Ouest (20/1), K O Kenny (33/1)

A very open contest, and the race with the most runners on the afternoon by far. It is likely that we're still to see the best of the largely unexposed trio Art Of Supremacy, Le Drapeau and Diamant de L'Ouest, with the Micky Hammond trained runner of particular interest if the market vibes are positive. However, a few of these horses come into this race in reasonable form. Randy Pike was a winner at Market Rasen on Boxing Day, but he needs to settle better from a much higher mark following a subsequent Musselburgh flop, whilst Sedgefield (chasing) specialist Banny's Lad is an unknown commodity over this trip over the smaller obstacles. Wazowski was a gritty winner here recently, and a 5lb rise wouldn't appear overly prohibitive, but the top-weighted CAMRON DE CHAILLAC looks the safest play under young Sean Houlihan as he seeks to build upon a much improved effort at Taunton (winner in the first time visor) in late December.