15:45 Sedgefield

Sunday 1 March 2020

All14:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:50

Horton Harrison Astill Evans Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 7m 36.10s

Katy Royal⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-7| J: J Kington| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 107| CD

12/1

Has kept moderate form since winning under an enterprising ride over C&D (good to soft) in January 2019; was in rear throughout at Catterick (3m1½f, heavy) earlier this week; set to carry a massive weight (12st 7lb).

Form: 1P-6906

The Horsechesnut^t,v1⁴⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 98

15/2

Veteran; has flipped back and forth between Jennie Candlish and David M O'Brien during his racing career; capable when on song as illustrated winning back-to-back races (hurdles and fences) at Ayr and Hexham in March 2019; visor now applied.

Form: 2611-P0

Boyfromnowhere^t⁶⁵²

Age: 13| Weight: 11-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: A Wintle| OR: 88

33/1

Veteran (3-27 under rules); returns to action for the first time in 652 days; easing in the weights, yet hasn't won anywhere since June 2016 (4m point); it's difficult to imagine him having a great deal more too offer.

Form: B3552/7-

King Gypsy^p³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ross Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 88

14/1

Out the back in all four attempts over hurdles, including when upped-in-trip in first-time cheekpieces for handicap debut at Newcastle (2m6f, soft) 33 days ago; still low-mileage, yet easily overlooked unless strong in the market.

Form: P-6867

Samtu^p²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 87

11/4

Doesn't win all that often nowadays (his last victory came over fences) but has become well-handicapped as a result; made most until headed after the final flight when runner-up to Sign Of War over C&D (soft) 26 days ago; 2lb higher.

Form: 54U352

Shocona's Joy³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: T J Phelan| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 83

22/1

Seemingly light on ability; well beaten in three starts over hurdles (2m-3m1f maiden/novice); makes her handicap debut at a realistic level but must prove her stamina reserves.

Form: 42/3-045

Leopard^t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Ryan Mania| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 82

9/2

19-race maiden (0-8 over hurdles); while it isn't beyond the realms of possibility that he could strip fitter for his comeback run at Wetherby (3m, soft) 38-days ago, he's hardly the most appealing either.

Form: 603P4-8

Aniknam⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 81| BF

2/1

Useful novice (back in 2014/15); patiently handled by Phil Kirby in recent years and that approach was duly rewarded when gamely landing some sizeable bets at Uttoxeter (2m7½f, heavy) on New Year's Eve; beaten fav since (hard race left it's mark?)

Form: 7/0P215

Betterlatethanneva^t,v⁸⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: G Howell| OR: 68

66/1

16-race maiden; doesn't appear to have taken too kindly to chasing (0-2); impossible to consider on form shown from 2019 onward; sits outside of the handicap proper; look elsewhere confidently.

Form: P-454P7

Non-Runners

Duty Girl¹⁰

Weight: 10-11| Age: 7

T: Julia Brooke J: Henry Brooke

Forecasts

Aniknam (2/1), Samtu (11/4), Duty Girl (3/1), Leopard (9/2), The Horsechesnut (15/2), Katy Royal (12/1), King Gypsy (14/1), Shocona's Joy (22/1), Boyfromnowhere (33/1), Betterlatethanneva (66/1)

Aniknam had a tough race when gamely landing some sizeable bets at Uttoxeter (2m7½f, heavy) on New Year's Eve and that experience has possibly left a negative mark. Thehorsechesnut is fitted with a visor on his return to Jennie Candlish so should be monitored for signs of market support in a weak race, along with the lightly raced King Gypsy. However, both Samtu (well-handicapped) and DUTY GIRL (an 18-race maiden) have went close over this C&D recently, with the latter-named of that pair showing improved form in four starts for Julia Brooke. Despite a token 3lb weights rise she could feasibly have her day in the limelight.