11:55 Sedgefield

Wednesday 26 December 2018

All11:5512:2512:5513:3014:0514:4015:15

Rebecca Menzies Racing Approaching 100 Winners Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 11:55 | Winning time: 4m 58.30s

Dark And Dangerous^b¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁷⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 100| C

14/1

Four-time course winner (all over 2m1f) with all those wins coming in a purple patch well over 18 months ago. Not won since then (has turned in some creditable performances of late); now slips back below his last winning mark; had a recent Flat spin.

Form: 556249-

Best To Come²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Callum Bewley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 99

10/1

Looked the type for handicaps on his novice outings (with Tom George) but disappointed in that sphere (pulled hard, hooded) last time. Hood now removed and dropped 4lb for yard debut, he may yet be capable of more; yard does well with new recruits.

Form: 6-5540

Millie The Minx¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 99| C

7/2

Won her last two at the track over 2m1f under today's promising claimer (2-2 on her); showed improved form for the first win. Up in trip and the handicap now so will find life harder (has been placed over C&D) off a career-high mark.

Form: 032311

Strike West¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 97

6/1

Took a while to get off the mark, winning at Carlisle in April (2m3f, heavy) and ran well for a long way on return from a break (needed run). Still 3lb above last winning mark but stable just bubbling under. Promising conditional takes the ride.

Form: U4831-3

Dulce Panem^b¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 95

22/1

Struggled to make an impact over hurdles so far and remains a maiden in his sphere (0-18) to take to chasing of late. Now tried in first-time blinkers for a yard that has been going well but hard to fashion a case for.

Form: 6B-09F4

Flowery^h1⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 95

12/1

Disappointed last time (attracted support) on his only run for Michael Hourigan (ran out after hanging badly). Now on stable/GB debut with a hood applied for the first time but looks one to treat with caution for now.

Form: 70-000R

Alice Lisle^t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 88

33/1

Well held in bumpers, she's hardly shown much more over hurdles and now makes her handicap debut having made all her hurdles starts at this track. Finished last of 5 last time and hard to make a case for.

Form: 946P-35

Bisoubisou^p,t⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 86| D

14/1

A return to Fakenham on her penultimate start appeared to produce an upturn in form; won a 2m4f handicap hurdle narrowly (went in snatches). Wasn't anywhere near the same form last time and well behind the joint top weight in this; work to do.

Form: 347317

Side Of The Road²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 85

18/1

Remains an eight-race maiden (0-6 over hurdles) having shown very little over obstacles with a switch to handicaps producing no improvement despite a falling mark. Now off a career-low with tongue-tie removed; makes little appeal.

Form: 7/596P-0

Theatre Act^p²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C Grant| OR: 82| C| D

7/2

Course winner over shorter but has shown form over this trip, appearing to appreciate the testing ground last time in a better grade than this. Not the force of old but reverts to just cheekpieces (worn for her three wins); dangerous off this mark.

Form: 445524

Magic Of Milan^t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: W T Kennedy| T: S England| OR: 79

11/2

From a yard that are always to be respected in handicaps of this ilk, she showed improved form over shorter here last time. Plugged on to be second to Millie The Minx (beaten 5L) and 8lb better off with the winner. One to note off the same mark.

Form: 866-602

Sendiym^p²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Mr Aiden Blakemore⁽⁷⁾| T: A Wilson| OR: 71| CD

28/1

Six-time course winner (twice over this trip) having won over hurdles and fences although his last win did come 18 months ago. Mark has plummeted of late but this ground has never looked his favourite; 3lb out of handicap.

Form: 0-77079

Non-Runners

Danceintothelight⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 11

T: D McCain Jnr J: Non Runner

Dolly's Dot¹³

Weight: 10-1| Age: 7

T: V Thompson J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Theatre Act (7/2), Millie The Minx (7/2), Danceintothelight (5/1), Magic Of Milan (11/2), Strike West (6/1), Best To Come (10/1), Flowery (12/1), Dark And Dangerous (14/1), Bisoubisou (14/1), Side Of The Road (18/1), Dulce Panem (22/1), Dolly's Dot (25/1), Sendiym (28/1), Alice Lisle (33/1)

Donald McCain took this race last year with Hit And Run and he has a decent chance again with Danceintothelight looking sure to make a bold bid from the front. Millie The Minx is also in form and aiming for a course hat-trick although this mark may test her while the one she conquered last time Magic Of Milan could well reverse that form over a longer trip. Both Theatre Act and Dark And Dangerous feature off dangerous looking marks and neither can be ruled out. The Hammond yard have a fair record here and look to be coming to the boil as does his representative STRIKE WEST and he’s given a tentative vote in a tricky opener.