16:30 Sedgefield

Thursday 22 February 2018

All13:4014:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Brian Ellison Beat The Best Winner Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 4m 24.94s

Amadoue^h¹⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Alan Johns| T: T Lacey| OR: 107

8/1

Showed promise in first three novice hurdles but struggled in two runs in handicaps. Dropped 4lb here and a better effort not ruled out, but does have plenty of weight to shoulder.

Form: 43359

Nautical Twilight^b²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 105| CD

5/1

Won over C&D in December 2014 but not troubled the judge over the last two years or more. Dropped a total of 9lb after mixed results this term, but ran well at Catterick last month and on that cannot be dismissed.

Form: 534-627

Dark And Dangerous¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁷⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 103| CD

12/1

Won four out of five over C&D last winter (including this event), shooting up 28lb in the process. Found life tough since then and hasn't shown enough of late to suggest his winning turn is upon us.

Form: 482556

Ajabindejaw²²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 102

10/1

Poor form in six starts for Thomas Gibney in Ireland and makes UK debut here for new connections. Very hard to get excited about on evidence to date.

Form: P0-49P9

Derrynane^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 102| BF

11/8

Mildly progressive gelding in good heart of late, winning at Catterick in heavy ground penultimate start then running well in defeat over longer trip there last time off higher mark. Raised a further 4lb now but is going the right way.

Form: 7F6-412

Discoverie^b²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: Kenneth Slack| OR: 100| CD

6/1

Six-time course winner (three over fences), but looked out of sorts when pulled up here last time out over fences. Return to timber might spark a revival though and dangerous to rule out at this venue.

Form: 5U462P

Read'em And Weep³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 98

20/1

Accident-prone maiden point-to-pointer, shown little overall in four starts over timber and massive odds. A glimmer of hope when fourth at Ayr last month but pulled up since. Handicap debut.

Form: 4P884P

Simply Business^t1²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 79

10/1

Didn't show much in five starts for Charlie Longsdon, but was in touch until weakened two out on first start for new connections here last month. Still young and did hint at a little ability, but has a point to prove.

Form: 8447P6

Strait Run^p,t⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 71

33/1

Only win in 34 starts came in Newbury mile maiden for Richard Hannon in 2013. Pulled up three of last six starts but was runner-up over C&D a year ago. 8lb out of the handicap and on balance others make more appeal.

Form: P0P2P-0

Copt Hill^p²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 68| CD

33/1

One success in 44 starts, but that did come over C&D, albeit back in January 2013. Has shown very little since joining current yard last year and cannot be recommended on recent evidence from 11lb out of the handicap.

Form: 600074

Forecasts

Derrynane (11/8), Nautical Twilight (5/1), Discoverie (6/1), Amadoue (8/1), Ajabindejaw (10/1), Simply Business (10/1), Dark And Dangerous (12/1), Read'em And Weep (20/1), Strait Run (33/1), Copt Hill (33/1)

With many of his rivals struggling for form, DERRYNANE might be the one here having run well on his last two starts. In a puzzling contest a case can also be made for top weight Amadoue who make the long journey up from Herefordshire and has claims on his best form. Nautical Twilight represnts an in-form stable and is in with a shout along with course specialist Discoverie. Another standing dish here, Dark And Dangerous, has it to do on recent efforts but last year's winner cannot be totally dismissed.