16:45 Sedgefield

Thursday 25 February 2021

All14:1214:4215:1215:4216:1516:4517:15

vickers.bet Live Casino Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:48 | Winning time: 4m 22.6s

Palixandre^p1,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 95| BF

9/4

Fair winning hurdler for Nicky Henderson. Hinted at promise over fences for new yard, going off hard when distant second in handicap at Catterick last time. Big claims in first-time headgear.

Form: 6-55452

Ashjan⁸⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 92

8/1

Dual hurdles winner in Ireland, but latest success was back in August 2018 and hasn't shown a great deal of spark for present connections.

Form: 746-646

Tortuga Bay^p²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 91| D

10/1

Lightly-raced hurdler who opened her account in 2m Newcastle novice last month. Not disgraced on chasing bow at Catterick but tame display back over hurdles at Doncaster since.

Form: 8P-8140

Christmas In Usa^p1,t⁷³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: C O'Farrell| T: N W Alexander| OR: 89| C| D

7/1

Has dipped below his last winning mark but well below form over hurdles this season. In cheekpieces for first chase outing in this country.

Form: 007-755

Costly Diamond^t⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 79

7/1

Winning pointer but only poor form shown under Rules. Hard to make a case for.

Form: 970443

Frankie Ballou^b,t²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 78| CD

7/2

On a long losing run and last couple of efforts have been disappointing. Goes well at this track, so return to form isn't out of the question.

Form: 3-772P6

Lough Legend²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 74

9/1

Fair maiden hurdler at his best but yet to hit top form this season, down the field back over fences at Catterick last time. Plenty to prove.

Form: F-07457

Elixer⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Craig Nichol| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 72

14/1

Remains a maiden after 21 runs but he was running respectably when falling last at Catterick on penultimate start and perhaps found the race coming too soon there next time. One to consider.

Form: 505UF6

Forecasts

Palixandre (9/4), Frankie Ballou (7/2), Costly Diamond (7/1), Christmas In Usa (7/1), Ashjan (8/1), Lough Legend (9/1), Tortuga Bay (10/1), Elixer (14/1)

PALIXANDRE showed up well when runner-up under a positive ride in a much stronger race than this at Catterick last time, so he's well capable of opening his account for this stable if he can build on it in first-time cheekpieces. Tortuga Bay makes some appeal back over fences and Frankie Ballou should benefit from the return to this track, so are feasible dangers.