12:55 Sedgefield

Thursday 26 December 2019

All11:5012:2512:5513:3014:0514:4015:15

Stablemate By AGMA Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:55 | Winning time: 4m 20.40s

Felix Mendelssohn^p⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 97| D

6/1

Failed to put it all together over hurdles but that hasn't been the case over fences having already won twice in this discipline. Form since those two wins has been poor; bounced back last week at Catterick, returning to last winning mark.

Form: 139835

Roxyfet³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 93| CD

11/2

Has history in this race winning it twice before being pulled up last year underlining his inconsistent/quirky nature. Gave a fair indication that he's back to form when bumping into a well handicapped one over C&D last time; could go well again.

Form: 3-15592

Thomas Blossom^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁷⁾| T: R C Harper| OR: 87| D

14/1

Tends to lose his effectiveness on soft ground and got rather bogged down on a soft surface over hurdles at Market Rasen last time. Had been in good heart prior to that run but his chance would recede with very drop of rain that falls.

Form: 224528

Take The Crown¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 85| D

40/1

Hurdle/chase winner earlier in his career but made very little impact in point-to-points in 2019 (0-24 in that sphere overall). Showed nothing on his return to Rules action last time, still goes without his usual tongue-tie; very limited appeal.

Form: 6P-5R50

Frankie Ballou^p,h¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 84| CD

12/1

Three-time C&D winner on a soft/heavy surface with the first of those wins coming off a mark that he's now slipped back down to. 14lb below his highest/last winning mark; bettered recent efforts last time but in a very weak contest at Hexham.

Form: 6P4-PF3

Two Hoots^p,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 83| CD

9/2

Twice a course winner (once over this trip) he did at least show up a little better than previously this season last time. Little inspiration to be gained from that effort it should be noted he's slipped back below his last winning mark.

Form: 212-574

Istimraar^p³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 83| C| D

25/1

Rapid improver for a move to the Skelton yard earlier this year winning a chase and two hurdles (all in handicaps). Quickly departed that yare with his form since looking sporadic with his inconsistency underlined by his last two starts.

Form: 098025

Stormbay Bomber^p,t³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 80| D

11/2

Slips in the weights (now 20lb below his last winning mark) but any enthusiasm should be tempered by the fact that he has plenty of quirks (generally finishes weakly). Very much ran in that style last time and comes with inevitable risks attached.

Form: 235-344

Ripstick¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: C O'Farrell| T: J Walton| OR: 78

9/2

Yet to win under Rules (dual point-to-point winner) who looks ready to win in this sphere. Turned in his best chasing effort last time ay Hexham (2m4f, heavy) finishing weakly (reported to have lost a shoe), back in trip and nicely handicapped.

Form: P33752

Grand Coureur^b,t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Ross Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 77

6/1

Just one win to his name which came over 2m4f at Bangor in testing conditions (jumped none too fluently). No match for an easy winner over 2m1f at the same track last time; may find one or two too good at this sort of trip, others appeal more.

Form: 5912P2

Cyrano Star^p¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: J Kington| T: A Crook| OR: 63

50/1

8lb out of the handicap for his third chasing attempt it appeared a recent wind op made little difference to his chance last time. Tries again but even in this relatively lowly grade his chance is limited, can only be watched.

Form: 7-P9070

Forecasts

Ripstick (9/2), Two Hoots (9/2), Roxyfet (11/2), Stormbay Bomber (11/2), Felix Mendelssohn (6/1), Grand Coureur (6/1), Frankie Ballou (12/1), Thomas Blossom (14/1), Istimraar (25/1), Take The Crown (40/1), Cyrano Star (50/1)

The obvious conclusion to draw here would be that dual winner of this event and six-times course winner Roxyfet has a fine chance although both his wins in this contest have come off lower marks. Pulled up last year in this race off today’s mark he might find things a little tougher with RIPSTICK reverting to 2m the choice this time around. Yet to win under Rules there was plenty to like about his run at Hexham last time over 4f further and this may well be the opportunity for his maiden win. Two Hoots with Brian Hughes taking the ride has slipped back down to a workable mark and he’s in the mix along with three-time C&D winner Frankie Ballou and Felix Mendelssohn.