16:20 Sedgefield

Tuesday 3 October 2023

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:50

Shine Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 4m 3.92s

No Recollection^t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: S England| OR: 103

40/1

Dual 2m winner who failed to get home when ninth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Worcester (20f, good to soft) 35 days ago. Not discounted back in trip.

Form: 6140U9

Balkalin^t²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Conor Rabbitt| T: M A Barnes| OR: 101

22/1

Veteran who scored at Kelso in May. Not disgraced when fourth of 6 in handicap hurdle there (20.9f, good to firm) 21 days ago so he's one for the shortlist.

Form: 1888P4

Cardano^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr Eddie Edge⁽¹⁰⁾| T: B Brookhouse| OR: 100

11/8

Fairly useful 12f winner on the level who scored last month on the back of a wind op. Has shown some promise in three runs over hurdles and his opening mark looks lenient. Interesting.

Form: 804/

Ferrybridge^h⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Lily Pinchin| T: James Owen| OR: 99

17/2

22/1, pulled up in handicap hurdle at Limerick (22f, soft) 68 days ago on his final run for Michael Hourigan. May still do better for his new yard.

Form: 58-979P

Copper Fox⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 94WS

12/1

Fair winner over hurdles who comes here on the back of a below-par second of five over fences at Market Rasen 45 days ago. Back in this sphere after a wind op with more needed.

Form: 2-23P42

North Parade²²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: William Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 93| CD

12/1

C&D winner but off 7 months since posting a below form fourth of 8 in handicap hurdle here. Needs to hit the ground running.

Form: P/P62U4-

Brian's Jet^b¹⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: P W Wadge| T: B Ellison| OR: 92

10/1

Blinkered for 1st time, returned to form when second of 10 in selling hurdle at Hexham (16.2f, good to soft) 150 days ago. Needs to back it up now with the headgear retained.

Form: 63PPP-2

Leopolds Rock^p³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Joe Williamson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 91| CD

15/2

C&D winner who posted a respectable third of 10 in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (15.8f, good) 34 days ago. Unreliable type, however.

Form: 21324-3

Thomas Cranmer⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Hogan| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 90

25/1

Five-time Flat winner but last of those came back in 2018. Fair maiden in this sphere so no forlorn hope back hurdling now.

Form: 4477/45-

Bentham^p,t³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Tabitha Worsley| T: Sara Ender| OR: 87| D

25/1

It's now 32 runs since his last win in 2020 and he arrives below par too, fifth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Cartmel (17.2f, soft) 38 days ago. Others appeal more.

Form: 7-78345

Escobedo^p,t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Bradley Harris⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 79

6/1

Modest maiden hurdler. Below form sixth of 10 in handicap at Newton Abbot (16.8f, good) 31 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 367-426

Virtuoso¹⁷⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Maggs⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 70

22/1

Fair 14f winner on Flat for Andrew Balding. Changed hands for 14,000 gns and well held all three starts over hurdles, tried in cheekpieces once. Hard to make a case for.

Form: 259-

Strong Team^p⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlotte Jones| T: C Grant| OR: 68| CD

40/1

C&D winner in 2021 but he arrives out of sorts, eighth of 11 in handicap at Newcastle (12.4f) 7 days ago. Switches to hurdles with lots to prove.

Form: 724-6P0

Forecasts

Cardano (11/8), Escobedo (6/1), Leopolds Rock (15/2), Ferrybridge (17/2), Brian's Jet (10/1), Copper Fox (12/1), North Parade (12/1), Balkalin (22/1), Virtuoso (22/1), Thomas Cranmer (25/1), Bentham (25/1), Strong Team (40/1), No Recollection (40/1)

Not so competitive as the numbers suggest. CARDANO showed the benefit of a wind op when going in on the level last month and can capitalise on a good opening mark in this sphere. In-form veteran Balkalin is next on the list ahead of No Recollection, who should prove suited by dropping back in distance.