16:05 Sedgefield

Tuesday 4 February 2020

All13:2513:5514:2515:0015:3016:0516:35

Stockton Kia Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 7m 2.3s

Strike West³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 100

8/1

Returned to form with a head second in a handicap hurdle over an extended 3m at Haydock (soft) in December. Interesting runner stepping up in distance despite a 2lb rise in the weights.

Form: 22-P672

Kilcrea Bridge^p,t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: R T Dunne| T: R G Hawker| OR: 96| BF

7/1

Finished third on his last two starts over fences including when beaten 3L over 3m1f at Hereford (heavy) just over a month ago. Bold show expected off the same mark on his return to hurdling.

Form: 257-533

Sign Of War^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 92

11/4

Broke his maiden at the eleventh time of asking when winning a novices' handicap chase over an extended 2m7f at Chepstow (heavy) last month. Making his chase debut that day and is interesting back over hurdles following a 5lb rise in the weights.

Form: 6P4651

Red Star Dancer^b¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: D Thompson| OR: 90

100/1

15 race maiden struggled when beaten 26L over an extended 2m7f at Newcastle (soft) in first time cheekpieces (replaced with blinkers here) last month. Probably best watched on first attempt at this distance.

Form: 8340

On We Go¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 89

11/1

Recorded her first career success when winning a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m5f at Ayr (heavy) last month. Raised 4lb for that success and is worth a check in the market stepping up markedly in trip.

Form: 706451

Pray For A Rainbow^t³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 87

11/2

Made a successful return from a break when winning by 1½L in a 3m handicap hurdle at Wetherby (soft) in December. Shapes as if this step up in trip will suit and he holds strong claims racing off a 4lb higher mark in this contest.

Form: 3-44391

Georgian Firebird^t²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: B Leavy| OR: 86

9/1

Placed on her last two starts most recently when beaten a neck over an extended 3m1f at Catterick (soft) last month. Top jockey booked to ride once more and she is of interest off a 3lb higher mark.

Form: PP-7F32

Samtu^p³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Thomas Dowson| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 85

20/1

Well beaten 17L fifth in a handicap hurdle over an extended 3m1f at Catterick (good-to-soft) at the start of last month. More needed if he's to take this event.

Form: 954U35

Lammturner^p⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 80| CD

6/1

Disappointed when pulled up in a 2m7f handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (soft) in early December. Decent fourth at Newcastle (heavy) prior to that and she was a winner over this C&D in first time cheekpieces (returning here) in March last year.

Form: 616-54P

Oliver's Island^b,t1¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: Sean Conway| OR: 79

20/1

Had just four starts since winning over an extended 2m7f at Uttoxeter (soft) in December 2018. Beaten 12½L when fourth over the same trip at Fakenham (good-to-soft) last time out and wears a tongue tie for the first time in this event.

Form: 5135-64

Letemgo^t,v⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-5| J: D B Hurst⁽⁷⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 79

16/1

Well beaten 26L fourth in a handicap chase over an extended 3m2f on soft going here recently. Visor worn for the first time that day is retained with a tongue tie added on his return to hurdling.

Form: 547664

Simply Lucky^p,t²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 73

20/1

Ran well for a long way prior to weakening into seventh, beaten 29L in a handicap hurdle over an extended 3m at Doncaster (good-to-soft) last month. Worth a check in the market racing from out of the handicap stepping up in distance.

Form: 256P37

Midnight Mustang^p¹⁹

Age: 13| Weight: 10-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 72

33/1

Put a disappointing effort behind him when finishing 8L third in a 3m handicap chase at Market Rasen (soft) last month. More needed from out of the handicap if he's to take this race on his first start over hurdles since November 2018.

Form: 25-64P3

Agent Louise^p³⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 69| CD

66/1

Dual C&D winner but has been out of form of late including when 35L eighth over an extended 3m1f at Catterick (good-to-soft) at the start of last month. Others make more appeal racing from out of the handicap.

Form: 2/76P-P8

Forecasts

Sign Of War (11/4), Pray For A Rainbow (11/2), Lammturner (6/1), Kilcrea Bridge (7/1), Strike West (8/1), Georgian Firebird (9/1), On We Go (11/1), Letemgo (16/1), Samtu (20/1), Oliver's Island (20/1), Simply Lucky (20/1), Midnight Mustang (33/1), Agent Louise (66/1), Red Star Dancer (100/1)

SIGN OF WAR made a winning chase debut last time out and he can register his second career success by making a winning return to hurdling in this staying handicap hurdle. The selection looks capable of getting the better of top weight Strike West who was narrowly beaten at Haydock on his most recent start while Pray For A Rainbow who has a promising conditional jockey in the saddle can take third.