17:50 Sedgefield

Thursday 29 August 2019

All16:5017:2017:5018:2018:5019:2019:50

Stockton Kia Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 17:50 | Winning time: 3m 54.10s

Ray's The Money²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 120| D

5/2

Got the tactics spot on when successful at Market Rasen last time, coming away for an easy success and improved a little. Penalty now makes life tougher but yard continue in good form and he will have his chance of following up.

Form: 65P/2-1

Armandihan⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: K A Ryan

3/1

Useful (if hard to win with) on the Flat, best around 10-12f and should stay this trip over hurdles. Good jockey booking for hurdles debut and has the scope for hurdles. Market probably the best guide as to chance.

Form:

Charming Dream^t⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 118

6/1

Poor at Cartmel last time but possible the ground was too soft for him there, and that run forgiven. Previous second at Hexham reads well enough and gives him every chance today. Should be more to come.

Form: P63/P-24

Enemy Of The State^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: A B Hamilton

125/1

Wasn't up to much on the Flat and two starts over hurdles have revealed little in the way of aptitude for the job. Plenty to find to get involved here.

Form: 75

Khitaamy^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ross Chapman| T: Miss T Jackson

125/1

Regressive on the Flat, rated just 46 at present, and makes hurdling debut in a warm race for the time of year. Makes no appeal.

Form:

Ashington¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny Cook| T: J & S Quinn

7/4

Useful on the Flat, rated 79 when scoring at Brighton in August of last year, and yard often do well over hurdles with these types. Should stay fine and as long as ground stays on the good side, and he hurdles fluently, has chances.

Form:

Baasha^b,t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann

40/1

Moderate on the Flat for Ed Dunlop, regressive in the spring and joined new yard in June. Showed some ability on hurdles debut at Uttoxeter but not so good at Worcester last time. May be one for handicaps after today.

Form: 68

Dawn Trouper^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke

14/1

Progressive on the Flat in Ireland for Jim Bolger last year, and turned in a decent first effort over hurdles for new yard at Newton Abbot earlier in the month, showing plenty of ability. Should improve and has chances of making the frame at least.

Form: 3

Mandarin Princess¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 84

66/1

You can argue the case that it was a better effort at Southwell last time but one or two of the principals underperformed and the form may not amount to much. Needs more here in any case.

Form: P06

Spirit Of Dreams⁸⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: H Burns

100/1

First starts for new yard here but showed next to nothing in two hurdles starts in Ireland, and hard to see her taking a hand today.

Form: 7-0

Forecasts

Ashington (7/4), Ray's The Money (5/2), Armandihan (3/1), Charming Dream (6/1), Dawn Trouper (14/1), Baasha (40/1), Mandarin Princess (66/1), Spirit Of Dreams (100/1), Khitaamy (125/1), Enemy Of The State (125/1)

Ray's The Money has the form in the book already and whilst that's never a bad thing, he meets a few useful Flat sorts today and giving the penalty away won't be easy. Both Ashington and Armandihan are useful recruits from that sphere and money for either needs noting, but maybe DAWN TROUPER, who was equally useful on the Flat, will be capable of taking a step forward on his Newton Abbot form. He was unlucky not to finish second there and the winner might be a very useful recruit to hurdles. He gets the vote. Charming Dream holds solid claims as well, as long as the ground stays on the good side.