13:55 Sedgefield

Tuesday 12 March 2019

All13:5514:3515:1515:5516:3517:10

Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 5m 0.70s

Treasure Dillon^p1³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 107

3/1

Has finished runner-up on two of his five starts over hurdles, including when beaten 10L on handicap debut at Bangor (2m7f, good to soft) in January; not so encouraging at Market Rasen latest; cheekpieces now applied.

Form: 1-84229

Cadellin⁶⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 103

33/1

Off the track for a whopping 670-days so his fitness and well-being is taken on trust; beaten 9L by The Doorman when last in competitive action in a 2m3f Carlisle novices hurdle (good); handicap debut.

Form: 57645/2-

Mah Mate Bob^h⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 94

15/8

Has slipped down the weights and almost exploited that fact when mugged in the shadow of the post (made most) by Oriental Cross at Newcastle (2m4f+, good to soft) last week; the recently applied hood has clearly helped; key player.

Form: 9-58442

Schlipf⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: D Bourke| OR: 92

66/1

Fair form (but no more than that) for previous trainer Iain Jardine in 2017; started at odds of 50/1 when pulled up on debut for this trainer over 2m6f at Newcastle in January; unlikely.

Form: 43349-P

Modulus^v¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 83| C| D

7/1

Effective around Sedgefield - a winner on this very card in 2017 (2m1f novices' handicap hurdle); very reasonably treated on his peak form (not shown for some considerable time) and this deeper racing surface is a major plus.

Form: 857-607

Rocku^p,t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: William Marshall⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 79| BF

9/4

Remains a maiden over hurdles (0-9) but has shown definite signs of improvement since joining Dan Skelton; every chance that this drop back in trip will suit and surely enters the equation off a lightweight.

Form: 836/34B

Excalibur^p⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 75

11/1

Former Polish Flat racer who has done anything but excel over obstacles (0-6); poor jumper who couldn't be considered in any shape or form; stablemate of Ex S'elance and Strait Run.

Form: 597-060

Rapid Fritz^b,t⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 60

200/1

Clearly very light on ability this 27-race hurdles maiden holds precious little chance from miles outside of the handicap proper; look elsewhere with immense confidence.

Form: 6P8PP8

Non-Runners

Ex S'elance²²

Weight: 10-8| Age: 5

T: Micky Hammond J: Alain Cawley

Strait Run⁶

Weight: 10-0| Age: 8

T: Micky Hammond J: Emma Smith-Chaston

Forecasts

Mah Mate Bob (15/8), Rocku (9/4), Treasure Dillon (3/1), Strait Run (9/2), Modulus (7/1), Ex S'elance (10/1), Excalibur (11/1), Cadellin (33/1), Schlipf (66/1), Rapid Fritz (200/1)

A couple of the more obvious contenders include the dropped in trip Rocku and the fairly weighted Mah Mate Bob who made most until mugged in the shadow of the post at Newcastle last week. However, in a modest race a brave approach is adopted with the ground described at declarations stage as soft (heavy) in places. Course winner Modulus will appreciate such testing conditions as will EX S'ELANCE who is one of a trio of runners for the Middleham handler Micky Hammond. This 5yo has disappointed since switched to these shores but has fallen a whopping 38lb in the weights and could feasibly rediscover his 'mojo' with further rainfall a distinct possibility.