Racecards
15:20 Sedgefield
Oakley For Mitsubishi Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 3m 3f 110y
- Going: Heavy, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,500 added
- Form 871P-PP
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer B Storey
- Jockey B P Harding
tracked leader, led 4th, headed 4 out, soon weakened
- Form 852154
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 110
mid-division outside, lost place and reminders 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form 2P66UU
- Age 12
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 110
chased leaders, lost place 5th, soon behind
- Form 76-P686
- Age 10
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey L Stephens
behind, short lived effort after 10th, no impression from 3 out
- Form 30-1251
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey G Lee
mid-division on inside, headway 9th, ridden 2 out, led last, stayed on well
- Form 31/25FF
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 105
led to 4th, chased leader until lost place 7th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
Em's Royalty
34- Form PP3-P19
- Age 10
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer A Parker
- Jockey P Kinsella
mid-division ridden and weakened 10th
- Form 1-283
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey P J Brennan
mid-division, hit 9th, headway next, effort 3 out, ridden and weakened next
Aldea (FR)
45- Form 64-95P8
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey P Whelan
in touch, effort 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
Our Joycey
74- Form 3P3-518
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer Mrs K Walton
- Jockey Stephen Craine
tracked leaders, joined leaders 7th, led 4 out, headed after next, soon one pace
- Form 648614
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer J M Jefferson
- Jockey F King
held up, headway 10th, led after 3 out, ridden and headed last no extra flat
Crackleando
23- Form 037362
- Age 6
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 88
close up on outside, lost place 10th, soon behind
- Form F/P-02P7
- Age 11
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer James Moffatt
- Jockey A Dempsey
mid-division, 5th and no impression when blundered 2 out
- Form 566466
- Age 7
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 85
chased leaders to 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
- Form 4P-0P50
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey P McDonald
held up, headway 8th, outpaced 10th, behind when slipped on bend approaching 2 out
In depth
Verdict
This is a very tricky contest and a narrow vote is given to Top Cloud, Loaded Dice and Crackleando may be the main rivals. The selection showed a real liking for this track when successful over course and distance on Boxing Day. He battled on in good style that day and similar courage today should see him go very close. Loaded Dice was well behind on that occasion but had every chance before clouting the third last. With an error free round today he should be thereabouts. Crackleando showed improved form when stepped up to this trip last time out and should be vying for some place money. The best of the rest could be Oscar The Boxer but in a very competitive race Top Cloud just edges the decision.
Formwatch
Piraeus (NZ) 8-1 (11-2) Held up, lost touch 3 out, 4th of 5, well behind Dom d'Orgeval (11-8) at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (3) sft.
Top Cloud (IRE) 10-11fav (10-9) Held up in touch, headway 10th, led approaching 3 out, headed next, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure to lead again near finish, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Ice Tea (10-9) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Em's Royalty 12-1 (11-1) Prominent, outpaced from 8th, soon beaten, 9th of 13, well behind Allegedly So (10-12) at Newcastle 3m nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Loaded Dice (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Tracked leader, every chance when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 6, 24l behind Top Cloud (10-9) at Sedgefield 3m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Our Joycey 12-1 (9-12) Chased leader until weakened 9th, 8th of 11, 38l behind Sir Bathwick (10-1) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Oscar The Boxer (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Held up, outpaced after 7th, kept on from 2 out, never dangerous, 4th of 12, 15l behind Great Approach (10-5) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Crackleando 8-1 (11-2) Mid-division, outpaced 4th, well behind 4 out, rallied after 2 out, stayed on to chase winner flat, 2nd of 14, 7l behind Storymaker (11-3) at Kelso 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.
Westmorland (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Mid-division, lost place 4th, no danger after, 7th of 14, well behind Storymaker (11-3) at Kelso 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.