SEDGEFIELD

4:20 HAPPY BIRTHDAY RON CRAKE HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS 4) (4yo+,0-110) 3m4f

TOTALLY SCOTTISH 11-12 ~ This will be the 12 year olds 97th career start so he’s as exposed as they come. He has raced over this trip once previously and he didn’t appear to get home. That run was 3 years ago when he was a younger horse so it’s unlikely he’ll relish the stamina test now he’s in the twilight of his career. His recent form isn’t a ringing endorsement either as he has been well beaten in his last three starts. The Kevin Reveley veteran can be easily passed over as a result.

SEIZE 11-11 ~ Improvement came this season when the gelding was stepped up to 3+ miles at Catterick. He finished 2nd only a neck behind Willie The Fish as the front two pulled clear of Izzykeen. That improved effort didn’t escape the attentions of the handicapper though and he put him up 5lbs. Still that didn’t really stop the gelding running consistently well since and if anything he looks likely to improve again for another stiffer test of stamina. As a result he has to enter calculations especially considering his shrewd connections.

OUR JIM 11-8 ~ The Donald McCain 6yo gelding is another horse who has thrived since being stepped up in trip this season. He won a novice handicap at the beginning of the season off a mark of 85 and he runs today on a rating of 104 which highlights the progression the horse has made. The only blot on his record came last time out at Carlisle. That run came after his win in a novice handicap at Hereford and he was really sublime that day winning how he liked in an above average race for the grade. So he could have been fancied to defy his 11lbs hike in the ratings but was turned out quickly before the handicapper could have his say and he disappointed at Carlisle. However conditions were far from ideal, testing ground, an inadequate trip and having to be turned out again so soon after his last run all counting against him. He’s been give a break to freshen him up since and the ground shouldn’t be too bad today. This trip shouldn’t hold any fears either and he could bounce back to form today in a race that should suit him down to the ground.

IZZYKEEN 11-4 ~ The Sue Smith 9yo once promised much but he never really built on his potential. The gelding has recently shown signs over fences to suggest all is not lost. However he was taking advantage of his lower mark over the larger obstacles so back over timber he has to deal with his mark of 100. He has yet to win a handicap over timber and his runs in that sphere this season hold out little hope that he’ll change that today. He was beaten 7 lengths by Seize at Catterick and although he has a 7lbs pull he is far from certain to reverse the form. Seize was running on better at the finish suggesting the margin would have been wider over todays trip. Izzykeen also has a preference for fast ground and the firmer the better so the recent rain hasn’t helped his chances. The yard is in better form now but there is still little to get overly excited about Izzykeens profile and a place is probably the best connections can hope for.

SAN PIERE 10-13 ~ This will be the 11 year olds 20th run at Sedgefield so he is a regular fixture at the Durham track. His record over course and distance reads 1,1,5,5,2,1,3,5,3,4,9 so the trip is no concern and he revels in the soft so the rain would have been in his favour. However he is getting long in the tooth now and this season he has shown precious little even with conditions that should have been ideal. The handicapper has dropped him a little in the handicap which should help but he has to prove he is the same horse he used to be before he can be backed with any confidence.

CITY MUSIC 10-13 ~ The 7yo has had two runs this season, he only beat one horse home at Huntingdon and was then pulled up last time out at Wetherby. His only form of note came for Sue Smith when he won a Novice Hurdle at Hexham two years ago. He makes his debut for his third trainer today so it will be a tremendous training feat to get this horse back to his old form and capable of getting competitive.

MATMATA DE TENDRON 10-8 ~ Its two years since the 8yo last ran over timber and he never really looked like breaking his maiden over the smaller obstacles. In the mean time though he’s been progressing nicely over fences and even recorded a win over course and distance at the beginning of the year. That earn’t him a handicap mark of 110 so he was turned out quickly under a penalty in the North Yorkshire National but he fell before the race began. That appeared to knock his confidence a little and he was never jumping next time out at Hexham when well beaten. That was a worrying effort though and he is sent back over timber to boost his confidence. However despite being 20lbs ‘well in’ backing chasers ‘thrown in’ off their lower hurdle marks is the quickest way to the poor house. So his chances have to be taken at face value, he is unlikely to have the pace for hurdles and the fences which seemed to have improved him aren’t there so at a short price he has to be taken on.

COORBAWN VIC 10-8 ~ Shown snippets of form which can hardly be called impressive and the 7yo son of Old Vic has been pulled up on his last four starts. Impossible to back him with any confidence and he has yet to break his maiden in 22 career starts which is unlikely to change today.

ZAFFIE PERSON 10-5 ~ Last win came over course and distance two years ago but since that victory he had been out of form. Hinted at a change of fortunes at Hexham two runs ago when he finish 3rd a little more than 5 lengths behind the winner. The 1st and 2nd have franked the form since so that was an encouraging effort. However Zaffie Person, rather than build on that has subsequently disappointing in his last two runs, including one over course and distance in ground that should have suited. He's a very average performer and chances are he’ll be up against it today.

PHAREIGHT DEI 10-3 ~ Pulled up on his only run over timber this season but he has been running well over fences this season. He revels in the mud with all the horses 3 wins coming in heavy ground so todays conditions probably will prove to be too fast. He seems to need the ground to slow down the other horses as shown at Haydock last time out when getting outpaced over 3½ miles. Chances are the same will happen again especially over hurdles so despite being 4lbs lower in the handicap over timber he can be taken on.

SILVER FEATHER 10-3 ~ Yet to finish in the frame in 10 career starts including 8 over timber and hasn’t shown anything recently to suggest that will change today.

NESSEN DORMA 10-1 ~ Finished 11 lengths behind Our Jim at Market Rasen and he re-opposes today with a 16lbs pull in the weights so on the bare form he has a chance of reversing that form. However that rival has progressed considerably since that run so it’s unlikely that the 7yo gelding will be able to turn around that form. Especially as he has been well beaten in a Doncaster maiden hurdle and a couple of flat races suggesting the horse is not currently in the best of form. This trip also doesn’t look likely to suit when presented with the horses previous efforts.

GREENOCK 10-0 ~ In 6 starts the shortest distance he has finished behind the winner is about 20 lengths and little to suggest the Ferdy Murphy 7yo can win this race. However you never know what his trainer might have up his sleeve but this would be one hell of a rabbit.

GAGARIN 10-0 ~ Only hope for connections is that the horse improves considerably for a step up in trip. He is 9lbs out of the handicap but the horse’ lack of ability appears to be the biggest stumbling block.

CONCLUSION

Shortlist includes Seize and Our Jim.

Both horses appear to be relatively unexposed given they’re lightly raced over staying distances. Seize is only 1lbs higher than when winning a maiden last time out and finally putting his head in front could be the catalyst that enables the horse to carry on progressing. This trip looks to be right up his street as he doesn't appear to be lacking stamina. His useful claimer also takes off 5lbs so he looks nicely handicapped despite being near the top of the handicap. His nearest rival Our Jim disappointed last time out but there are plenty of excuses for that effort and he should be able to bounce back to form with conditions to suit. He has taken a steep hike in the ratings but this is a weak race and he looks to be heading in the right direction for a yard that always has to be respected at this level.

Our Jim would have been a fairly strong selection but he has since been withdrawn and so the baton is passed to the Ferdy Murphy trained Seize.

1pt WIN – SEIZE @ 7.0

RESULT

SEIZE n/r = N/A