14:30 Sedgefield

Tuesday 26 November 2024

All12:5513:2514:0014:3015:0015:30

Chris Blanckley Birthday Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 4m 53.04s

Nibiru^p¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Jamie Gambin⁽⁷⁾| T: Jack Jones| OR: 122

40/1

Fair winner on the Flat, notching fourth success on the level in a Dundalk claimer (final start for Mrs C. O'Leary) last month. Wasn't disgraced starting out for new yard in 1¾m Southwell handicap next time and worth a second look back in this sphere off a workable mark.

Form: 2P/R0-08

Harper Valley^v¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 115| CD

2/1

Winner of 3 of his 13 starts over hurdles, including this race 12 months ago, and went close to adding a fourth success in a first-time visor (retained here) at Kelso (21f, good to soft) recently. Nudged back up 3 lb for that but remains feasibly treated overall and another bold show on the cards.

Form: 130-532

Laser Focus^t⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁵⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 108

9/4

Successful 3 times on the Flat this year and wide-margin winner of handicaps at Huntingdon (20.7f, good) and Fakenham (23.4f, good to soft) in this sphere of late. More needed under a penalty in this higher grade but he's clearly at the top of his game and is impossible to rule out.

Form: 4-44U11

Salsada^p²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Craig Nichol| T: B Ellison| OR: 114| C

9/1

Useful Flat winner who showed benefit of a spin on the level when going agonisingly close in a handicap hurdle at Hexham (16.2f, good) last month. Commensurate with her rather in-and-out profile she ran no sort of a race at Wetherby next time, but the ability is certainly there if on a going day.

Form: 0-U662P

Finisk River^p,t³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 112| CD

14/1

Just 1 lb higher compared to when resuming winning ways in a Class 2 Bangor handicap in September, but his good run of form came to a halt over this C&D last time and he looks vulnerable against some younger, in-form rivals.

Form: 432154

Belvedere Blast¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: A Keatley| OR: 110| D

28/1

Scored at Hexham in June but it's been all downhill since and he needs to bounce back in a major way.

Form: 1P64P7

Punxsutawney Phil^p¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 104| C

18/1

Sole hurdles success was gained in a maiden over 3 years ago and while he wasn't disgraced back in this sphere at Market Rasen (20.6f, good) recently, others make more appeal.

Form: 4/6P67-4

Fugitives Drift^p¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Miss Lucy Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: Gary Rutherford| OR: 102| D

125/1

Went the wrong way for Nicky Henderson in 2022 and pulled up in hunter chase at Kelso sole outing in 2023/24 for Miss Lucy Brown. Also failed to complete returned to this sphere for new yard at Ayr 13 days ago and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: P/P314-P

Knacker Trapper²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: A Crook| OR: 96| D

7/2

Off the mark over 20.4f at Southwell in May and has returned from a break in good order, placed in handicaps at Sedgefield and Wetherby. No reason to think he won't be in the thick of things once more.

Form: V7-1523

Forecasts

Harper Valley (2/1), Laser Focus (9/4), Knacker Trapper (7/2), Salsada (9/1), Finisk River (14/1), Punxsutawney Phil (18/1), Belvedere Blast (28/1), Nibiru (40/1), Fugitives Drift (125/1)

The vote goes to HARPER VALLEY, who landed this race last year and looks poised for a repeat following his recent near miss at Kelso. Knacker Trapper's turn also appears near judged on his solid placed efforts the last twice, while the hat-trick seeking Laser Focus has to be feared. Salsada is not the easiest to predict but she will have a serious chance if on-song.