15:50 Sedgefield

Tuesday 14 March 2023

All13:5014:3015:1015:5016:3017:1017:50

In Memory Of Ian Vickers Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 7m 33.72s

Hold The Note²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 110

22/1

Opened chase account with headgear left off at Kelso (23.4f) in December and shaped as if still in good form when fifth back at that venue (26f) later that month. However, needs to bounce back following a disappointing effort last time and strike rate over fences is a very modest 1-19.

Form: 4P15F5

Court At Slip^b²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 107

4/1

Hurdles winner who has improved for switch to chasing, successful at Wetherby (24.2f) on Boxing Day and career-best effort (in first-time blinkers) when going in again at Newcastle last month. 4 lb rise fair and he needs considering.

Form: 431461

Who's In The Box^p³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁵⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 105

15/2

Snapped a long losing run with cheekpieces refitted when proving 2¾ lengths for Aire Valley Lad at Carlisle (24.5f) last time. Remains on a good mark up 5 lb and he should have a part to play.

Form: 2-6FP91

Westy Fox⁷⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 104

5/1

Winning hurdler in Ireland and readily surpassed previous chasing exploits when third at Catterick (25.2f) over Christmas. More needed if he's to open his chase account but this 9-y-o has low-mileage in this sphere and is not discounted.

Form: 908B-73

Aire Valley Lad³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Ross Chapman| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 100

13/2

Belatedly opened chase account at the twelfth time of asking at Wetherby in December before taking little interest in race won by Court At Slip at the same course next time. Bounced back with a good second to Who's In The Box at Carlisle and each-way claims if on a going day.

Form: 562102

Onestepatatime^p⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 95| CD

3/1

Off the mark under Rules when comfortably winning 6-runner handicap chase over C&D in January. Narrowly went in again back here off 5 lb higher later that month and a further 6 lb rise may not be enough to anchor this progressive mare.

Form: 2-F3511

Sir Apollo^b,t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 94| CD

7/2

Both career wins have been registered over this C&D, the latest in first-time blinkers 19 days ago when scoring by 32 lengths. This is a tougher race, though, so another, clear career-best will be needed if he's to defy this 11 lb higher mark.

Form: 416441

Sight Nor Seen^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 90

100/1

Fair hurdler/chaser in Ireland at his best but has shown precious little in 4 starts over hurdles for present connections.

Form: P55PP7

Forecasts

Onestepatatime (3/1), Sir Apollo (7/2), Court At Slip (4/1), Westy Fox (5/1), Aire Valley Lad (13/2), Who's In The Box (15/2), Hold The Note (22/1), Sight Nor Seen (100/1)

ONESTEPATATIME has clearly improved since finishing third to Sir Apollo over C&D in November, winning back-to-back handicaps here in January, and she is taken to complete the hat-trick. Sir Apollo won by a street when adding to his tally here recently but he has much more on his plate this time. Bigger threats may be posed by fellow last-time-out winners Court At Slip and Who's In The Box, with the former feared most on the back of a ready success at Newcastle.