12:30 Sedgefield

Thursday 14 November 2019

All12:3013:0013:3514:1014:4515:1515:50

Watch Sky Sports Racing In HD Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:31 | Winning time: 4m 31.5s

Christmas In Usa^t,v¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 98| D

9/4

Ended last season on an upward curve with form figures in Feb & Mar reading (112); raced enthusiastically until weakening out of contention (eighth of 14) behind a well backed winner on seasonal reappearance at Kelso (2m, good/soft); can do better.

Form: 64112-8

Little Pippin³²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 98

14/1

4lb higher than when beating Minella Fiveo by a head at Hexham (2m, good) last November; her race-fitness must be taken solely on trust returning from a 323-day absence (last seen at Wetherby on Boxing Day); others preferred in a weak race.

Form: 50/5139-

Millie The Minx⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 98| BF| CDWS

11/4

Both wins have come over C&D (soft 'ish'), including readily (by 5L) from a 7lb lower mark; ran some reasonable races on the Flat during the summer; needs a career best but could improve for wind surgery; stablemate of Oceanus.

Form: 1F63-32

Oceanus^p⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 89

11/2

Kept on from the rear to force a shared place in the frame at Cartmel (2m1f, good) in June; below that level of form since and this six-race hurdles maiden is broadly unappealing as a result; stablemate of Millie The Minx.

Form: 3/5-6377

Jo Cashflow²⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Dowson| T: C Grant| OR: 87

33/1

Has beaten only a handful of rivals home in four starts over hurdles (all here, 2m1f-2m4f); no reason whatsoever to expect better on handicap debut; look elsewhere with confidence.

Form: 47PP87-

First Of Never¹⁷²

Age: 13| Weight: 10-13| J: Blair Campbell| T: Miss L C Siddall| OR: 85| CD

22/1

Veteran; enjoyed a new lease of life during the early months of the year, winning at the 43rd attempt (Wetherby) before following up over C&D a few starts later; 5lb above that last winning mark; does he still have the legs after a six-month break?

Form: 1F721-6

Fast And Friendly^p1³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 81

50/1

Has shown poor form over hurdles (0-4) and looks to be fairly devoid of ability; may fare better now sent handicapping (wears cheekpieces) but simply can't be recommended at this stage.

Form: 60U-P09

Sweet Marmalade¹⁰¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Billy Garritty| T: B Ellison| OR: 79WS

10/3

Twice placed at a modest level on the Flat during the summer (1m2f-1m4f); 0-4 over hurdles previously for Lawrence Mullaney; is very lowly weighted post wind surgery on debut for Brian Ellison; basic market check advised.

Form: 585P-

Forecasts

Christmas In Usa (9/4), Millie The Minx (11/4), Sweet Marmalade (10/3), Oceanus (11/2), Little Pippin (14/1), First Of Never (22/1), Jo Cashflow (33/1), Fast And Friendly (50/1)

A modest opener in which the shortlist is exactly that, a very short list. On the bare figures the dual C&D winner Millie The Minx needs to show additional improvement in order to make a winning return to obstacles (raced on the Flat during the summer) but in reality against this standard of opponent that probably isn't the case. However, she can be taken on with the top-weight CHRISTMAS IN USA. Nick Alexander's seven-year-old weakened at the business end of the race behind a heavily supported winner on his seasonal reappearance at Kelso, but promises to be much stronger for the benefit of that run.