16:10 Sedgefield

Sunday 27 January 2019

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

Read Donald McCain Exclusively At RaceBets Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 4m 15.50s

Starplex^t¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: J Kington| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 96

66/1

Three-time winner for Keith Dalgleish (including over hurdles); has looked a shadow of his former self since joining this stable and couldn't be entertained as a result.

Form: 19/5-P80

Baratineur^p1¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 88| BF

11/8

No surprise to see the cheekpieces applied as he seeks a first win for Sam England; has run well up until a point on both starts at Catterick but is 4lb higher now and one can't help but feel that he's a questionable character.

Form: 0P0522

Trapper Peak¹¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Joe Colliver| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 88

3/1

Has left Conor Dore since finishing fourth of nine on his first start for over 12-months at Uttoxeter in October; is a three-time hurdles winner (all at 2m on good/good to soft); only of interest if attracting market support.

Form: 33686-4

Aza Run²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: S A Harris| OR: 85

33/1

Reverted to hurdles at Uttoxeter on New Years Eve (poor effort) after a similar unsuccessful stint over fences; slipping in the weights and sits 6lb below his last winning mark (on good to soft).

Form: 354-970

Surrender^p1³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 95

18/1

No joy over hurdles thus far (0-7) and not too much in the way of promise either; also of limited ability on the Flat (0-10) so surprising if the application of cheekpieces provides the necessary spark.

Form: 449B58

Copt Hill^b³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 80| CD

6/1

Has enjoyed a resurgence of late in similar low-grade contests at Newcastle; 6lb higher than when scoring by 1½L from Lucarno Dancer in December; solid contender.

Form: 374512

Strait Run^p,t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 78| CD

8/1

C&D winner in February 2018 from a 1lb higher mark - his sole success over timber in 24 starts; plenty to find with Baratineur on New Years Day Catterick form, although this riders 10lb claim can help.

Form: 378-465

Hey Bob^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C Grant| OR: 75

10/1

Has managed to win just once in 47 starts (November 2017) so the odds are firmly stacked against him; possible that he's capable of making the frame off a lightweight but that's about all.

Form: 392746

Cyrano Star^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: A Crook| OR: 71

20/1

0-9 over hurdles and has often failed to complete; finished well behind Copt Hill at Newcastle latest (2m+, soft); readily overlooked.

Form: 00-P6P8

First Of Never³⁵³

Age: 13| Weight: 10-0| J: W T Kennedy| T: Miss L C Siddall| OR: 68

80/1

41-race maiden (0-34 over hurdles); absent from competitive action since February 2018; simply can't be the solution at the grand old age of 13, no matter the porous nature of the opposition.

Form: 66/3405-

Non-Runners

Outback Blue⁴⁰

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: G Bewley J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Baratineur (11/8), Trapper Peak (3/1), Copt Hill (6/1), Strait Run (8/1), Outback Blue (8/1), Hey Bob (10/1), Surrender (18/1), Cyrano Star (20/1), Aza Run (33/1), Starplex (66/1), First Of Never (80/1)

With respect to connections this is a truly turgid finale. The case both for and against Baratineur can be argued with almost equal vigour, although having found precious little off the bridle at Catterick recently, it's just about advisable to take on the Sam England-trained charge at his predicted short odds. Therefore, the only viable alternative is the rejuvenated C&D winner COPT HILL who has kept reasonably solid form in similar porous events of late at Newcastle.