13:05 Sedgefield

Friday 6 December 2019

All12:0512:3513:0513:4014:1514:4515:20

Sky Sports Racing Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 4m 24.5s

Gennady^h1³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 117| BF

7/1

Won nicely at Kelso penultimate start but seemed in handicapper's grip of 10lb higher mark last time when fading at Musselburgh on run-in. Eased just 1lb and may find one or two too good once again.

Form: 265414

Raashdy⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 116| BF

12/1

Six-time Flat winner at up to 1m4f for Peter Hiatt. Scored at second time of asking for new connections in Hexham maiden hurdle then went close under penalty at Kelso. Rested 11 weeks and makes handicap bow for last year's winning yard. Interesting.

Form: 213

Sticky Situation¹³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 116

16/1

19-race ex-Irish maiden makes British debut for new yard with solid record at this venue. Hasn't run sunce July and hard to equate his form in Ireland so watching brief advised unless market suggests otherwise.

Form: 0-33250

Ted Veale²⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 115| D

25/1

Veteran who has won 11 times under both codes and been a credit to connections. Not the force of old though and run poorly both outings this campaign. Tumbling down the weights and is 15lb lower than close third at Kelso in March.

Form: 333-607

Masters Apprentice²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 115

2/1

Made winning hurdles bow at Uttoxeter in October and was good second under penalty over this C&D last time. First run in a handicap and should be very much on the premises on hurdles evidence thus far.

Form: 12

Crackdeloust⁵⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 115| CD

9/2

C&D novice hurdle winner in 2017 and won over nearly 2m4f at Catterick iun January 2018 off mark of 115. Runs off same mark but has to overcome 595-day absence. Not out of it, but will do well to win on first start back.

Form: F44158/

Xpo Universel^t,v¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 113| D

40/1

Landed handicap hurdles at Cartmel, Catterick and Kelso last term and didn't seem to enjoy chasing on seasonal return at Hexham last month. Back over timber but still 12lb higher than last winning rating so has pelnty on his plate.

Form: 81140-7

Jackson Hill^h,t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: M F Harris| OR: 113

3/1

Placed in 4-8 starts so far but yet to get his head in front. Close second in Plumpton maiden hurdle in October and not disgraced when third on handicap bow at Sandown last time in heavy ground. Eased 2lb so may be on premises.

Form: 44-P523

Snougar³⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 109

11/1

Returns after nearly a year off the track. Won Ayr maiden hurdle last term and was upsides 2 out when fell at Newcastle soon after. Has fitness to prove but is 2lb lower than last start on Boxing Day and is not out of it.

Form: 0314F/5-

Forecasts

Masters Apprentice (2/1), Jackson Hill (3/1), Crackdeloust (9/2), Gennady (7/1), Snougar (11/1), Raashdy (12/1), Sticky Situation (16/1), Ted Veale (25/1), Xpo Universel (40/1)

A tight-knit handicap hurdle with plenty having fair claims. Veteran Ted Veal is dangerously well handicapped if he can find some old form and would be a popular winer, but the four-year-old MASTERS APPRENTICE is a marginal call on handicap debut having done well on both starts so far over hurdles. Jackson Hill is very much respected along with Raashdy, while the market should tell us plenty about the respective fitness of the long absent pair of Snougar and Crackdeloust.