15:40 Sedgefield

Monday 23 September 2024

All14:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:20

Michael Watson MW Paving & Groundworks Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 6m 26.75s

I Am Spider Man²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: P Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 119| C

11/2

Won back-to-back handicaps at Sligo for Charles Byrnes over the summer. Ended his time with that yard with a respectable second in a Bellewstown claimer (20.5f, good) 26 days ago.

Form: 911002

Barbados Buck's^b³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Callum Bewley| T: D Bourke| OR: 117

10/1

Quite a useful hurdler for Paul Nicholls and struck at the second time of asking for his new stable in small-field handicap at Carlisle (25f, heavy) last December. Below that level since, although latest Market Rasen run was a bit better and he's been eased another 3 lb.

Form: 96-94P5

Lord Accord^t,p⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 117

11/4

Multiple winner over hurdles/fences. Rather went off the boil last season but his mark has come down as a result and he was a respectable third at Uttoxeter (23f) in July. Returns from 8 weeks off with his yard going well.

Form: 4P56-43

Belvedere Blast^b³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: A Keatley| OR: 115

16/1

Racked up a hat-trick around 2m last summer and went in again at Hexham in June. Two lesser efforts at Market Rasen have followed, albeit he was reported to have returned lame.

Form: P-531P6

Mr Yeats^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Bradley Harris⁽³⁾| T: H Dickin| OR: 110

6/1

Sixteen runs since last win in 2022. Some creditable efforts this summer but he was beaten 11 lengths when last of 3 at Newton Abbot (26.5f, soft) 14 days ago.

Form: 3-63343

Townhill^t,p³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Ben Sutton⁽⁵⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 109| BF

4/1

Three staying handicap hurdle wins in the first half of the year but he needs to shrug off lesser efforts the last twice.

Form: 141-1P9

Belles Benefit^p¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Bannister| T: B I Case| OR: 98

10/1

Bounced back to form after 5 months off with victory at Cartmel (good) in June but not in anything like the same form on his completed start since.

Form: 64P-16U

Balkotic^v,t⁸⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 93| CD

7/1

Winless since 2022 but he was in good nick when last seen at the start of the summer. Has to enter the reckoning.

Form: 5325-33

Non-Runners

Del La Mar Rocket²³⁶

Weight: 11-4| Age: 8

T: H McMahon J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Lord Accord (11/4), Townhill (4/1), I Am Spider Man (11/2), Mr Yeats (6/1), Balkotic (7/1), Belles Benefit (10/1), Barbados Buck's (10/1), Belvedere Blast (16/1), Del La Mar Rocket (25/1)

Not many arrive with compelling claims. LORD ACCORD ran better from his reduced mark when third at Uttoxeter when last seen in July and is the suggestion with the Neil Mulholland team among the winners. Balkotic was placed twice in the first half of the summer and is next on the list ahead of Irish raider I Am Spider Man.