16:03 Sedgefield

Thursday 20 February 2020

All14:0314:3315:0315:3316:0316:3317:03

carpetgallop.co.uk Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:03 | Winning time: 7m 27.17s

Sutter's Mill^p⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 100

14/1

Last two wins have been over fences, but he is 2-15 over hurdles, one coming over only slightly shorter than today's trip. Has been competitive over fences from slightly higher marks this season. Trip may have been too short latest. Not ruled out.

Form: 2-P133P

Costante Via^b1,t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 99

7/1

Placed in half her 12 starts, but remains a maiden. Has a big chance from this mark based on her form last spring for Nigel Twiston-Davies. Well below par on both runs for this trainer. Blinkers go on (well held in cheekpieces). Interesting.

Form: 5/322-57

Vereina^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Ross Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 97

16/1

Enjoyed a good autumn, including back-to-back wins at Uttoxeter and Bangor (2m4f/2m7f, both heavy). 10lb higher than the latter, and looks to have been found out by the handicapper since. More needed.

Form: 55115U

The Wallace Line²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁵⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 97

15/2

Has won just 1-27, and that came in 2014. Plummeting in the handicap after some dismal form, but very hard to recommend in spite of that.

Form: 6/00885

Heresmynumber^p,t⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: James Bowen| T: A Stronge| OR: 85| CWS

13/2

Dual chase winner who is 0-11 over hurdles. Was an 11L third when 5lb higher at Fontwell (2m5f, soft) in December. Pulled up at Hereford next time, and has since had wind surgery. Could come into this if that has helped.

Form: 554P-3P

Duty Girl^p¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Joe Colliver| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 80

5/1

Yet to make the frame from her 17 starts. One of her better efforts came here last time (2m4f, soft), when 14L fourth. Longer trip ought to suit, but yet to see much evidence of that from previous attempts.

Form: 090454

Mcginty's Dream^t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 79

11/2

Last two wins were in 3m chases on testing ground. Couldn't take advantage of a more favourable hurdles mark when reverting to this discipline and third at Ayr last time, but wasn't far away. Same mark here, and not ruled out.

Form: 1F-8453

Espoir Moriviere⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 77| BF

6/1

Moderate gelding whose best three efforts (all placed) have been at Hexham over 2m4f-2m7f, on testing ground. 1lb higher here than the most recent of those, so needs to pull out more, and has it to prove after being pulled up last time.

Form: 370-32P

Oliver's Island^b,t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: Sean Conway| OR: 76

6/1

Scored over 2m7f (soft) at Uttoxeter last season, when 2lb higher. Hasn't come close to repeating that level of form since, and was well held over C&D last time. Others preferred.

Form: 135-646

K O Kenny^b1¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: J Kington| T: A Crook| OR: 69

66/1

16-race maiden who has been tailed off and pulled up in all three starts this season. Blinkers now tried, but 5lb 'wrong' and can only watch.

Form: P/60-PPP

Agent Louise^b¹⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 68| CD

33/1

Dual C&D winner in 2016, but has been badly out of form for almost two years now, and is impossible to recommend from 6lb out of the handicap.

Form: 76P-P80

Forecasts

Duty Girl (5/1), Mcginty's Dream (11/2), Espoir Moriviere (6/1), Oliver's Island (6/1), Heresmynumber (13/2), Costante Via (7/1), The Wallace Line (15/2), Sutter's Mill (14/1), Vereina (16/1), Agent Louise (33/1), K O Kenny (66/1)

Sutter's Mill should be competitive from this mark, if able to produce something like his chase form, while Heresmynumber could have a big say if wind surgery has helped. Mcginty's Dream and Espoir Moriviere are others to consider, but the suggestion is for COSTANTE VIA, who may benefit for the fitting of blinkers and is on a favourable mark if she does.