Racecards
13:00 Sedgefield
British Stallion Studs EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (EBF 'National Hunt' Novice Hurdle Race Series Qualifier) (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 178y
- Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £6,500 added
- Winner: £4,224
- 2nd: £1,240
- 3rd: £620
- 4th: £310
- Form 233329-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey B S Hughes
tracked leader, weakened from 3 out, tailed off
- Form 2-12858
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer S England
- Jockey Jonathan England
tracked leaders, lost place and in rear from 3rd, struggling from next
Ca Le Ferra (FR)
232- Form 5325/F-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Ewart
- Jockey Dale Irving
led, ridden before last, soon pressed, headed soon after last, kept on and held
- Form 5/024-3
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Ian Popham
in rear, headway to take 2nd from 3 out, kept on same pace in 3rd before last
- Form F2-13
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey W T Kennedy
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
- Form 18-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Adam Wedge
held up in touch, went 2nd before last, led soon after, held on well
In depth
Verdict
Irish import Free Stone Hill was third over a longer trip at Worcester last month but still beaten almost 20 lengths. Bollin Ace has been placed in six of his seven starts over timber but has never raced over a trip this short and turned in a shocker when last seen at Kelso in April. MIDDLEBROW won a Ballinrobe bumper in May for previous connections and wasn't beaten far on his first run for Donald McCain and hurdles bow at Kelso last month. Normal improvement should make his tough to beat here, though bumper winner Prime Venture shouldn't be dismissed out of hand.
Formwatch
Bollin Ace 4-1jfav (11-7) Held up mid-division, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 14, dist behind Imperial Prince (11-4) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Cabragh (IRE) 150-1 (11-0) Always behind, struggling 4th, soon lost touch, tailed off 4 out, 8th of 9, dist behind Ozzie The Oscar (11-8) at Wetherby 2m (3) gd in Oct.
Ca Le Ferra (FR) 9-1 (11-0) Close up, fell 1st, at Kelso 2m 2f mdn (5) gs in Mar.
Free Stone Hill (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up, towards rear and keen, headway before 2 out, kept on run-in, 3rd of 10, 19 1/4l behind Monbeg Charmer (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Middlebrow (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, in 3rd, led 3rd, ridden and headed before last, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Kalaniti (10-7) at Kelso 2m mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Prime Venture (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Behind, headway over 1f out, never nearer, 8th of 14, 11 1/4l behind Sam's Adventure (10-13) at Newbury 2m (2) sft in Mar.