16:00 Sedgefield

Monday 21 January 2019

All13:1513:5014:2014:5515:3016:00

Read Donald McCain Exclusively At RaceBets Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 5m 23.00s

Emerald Chieftan^t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: R Menzies| OR: 100

5/1

Point-to-point winner yet to make his mark under Rules and only placed once, his first start. Recent evidence over hurdles and fences not compelling so others appeal more.

Form: 66-F547

Raise Your Shades⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: B Pauling| OR: 98

9/4

Placed point-to-pointer unseated on hurdles debut before a trio of eighth placed finishes. First time in a handicap and for a yard who does well here so no surprise to see a sizable step forward now.

Form: 3-6U888

Our Delboy³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 98

5/1

Returned from 605 day absence when eighth of nine at Uttoxeter last month. 2017 form suggests this mark should be within range and entirely realistic to expect a major step forward now.

Form: 58364/8

Luvly Boy Blue^t⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr R Wilson⁽⁷⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 92

33/1

100/1 debut third in a Newcastle maiden hurdle yet to be built upon. Switch to a handicap latest did little to help as he was beaten over 100L into last. Of little appeal now.

Form: 3-980

Yalla Habibti⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 79

14/1

Unplaced in four bumpers and four hurdle races to date. Beaten 42L into fifth on handicap debut latest so sizable step forward needed but softer ground here may aid.

Form: 5-45065

Bertie Blake^p²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 78| BF

5/2

Placed here (2m4f) and at Newcastle (3m) before disappointing as favourite last time out at Wetherby. Sure that wasn't true running and two earlier efforts look the best form on offer so worth another chance.

Form: P04238

Allnite^h¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 83

16/1

Lowly 42-rated Flat performer beaten in excess of 50L in all three hurdle races to date. Wrong at the weights here for first handicap so others appeal more.

Form: 698

Millrose Bell^p⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 67

14/1

Placed on hurdle debut in 2017 but 13 races since gone by with no repeats. No impact in recent handicaps and likely same outcome here from 7lb out of the handicap.

Form: P4P966

Sory^v1²⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 67

25/1

Placed efforts last winter would offer hope here but below that level since including in two starts this season. Visor now tried but limited appeal from 7lb out of the handicap.

Form: 2347-59

Forecasts

Raise Your Shades (9/4), Bertie Blake (5/2), Emerald Chieftan (5/1), Our Delboy (5/1), Millrose Bell (14/1), Yalla Habibti (14/1), Allnite (16/1), Sory (25/1), Luvly Boy Blue (33/1)

BERTIE BLAKE was disappointing at Wetherby over Christmas but had been knocking on the door before that so is given another go in a race unlikely to take a great deal of winning. Raise Your Shades should fare better now handicapping so is another viable option as is Our Delboy second time back after a layoff.