Racecards
13:00 Sedgefield
Betfred 0800 7311210 Handicap Chase (Class F)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 3m 3f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 34P9-5F
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 95
mid-division, hit 7th, lost place 13th, behind when pulled up after next
Cirrus (FR)
14- Form 343
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer K G Reveley
- Jockey Jim Crowley
towards rear, lost touch and pulled up before 17th
- Form 3D4144-F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 94
mid-division, mistake and lost place 11th, behind when hit 14th, pulled up before next
- Form 334211
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer M D Hammond
- Jockey N Mulholland
chased leaders to 8th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 11th
- Form 275-148
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer Mrs S C Bradburne
- Jockey P Buchanan
always behind, tailed off from halfway
- Form 42P2P-4
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 85
prominent, outpaced 3 out, left 3rd next, stayed on to go 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner
- Form 73PP26-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 84
always behind, tailed off halfway
Pottsy's Joy
27- Form 19P-F9P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey P Whelan
mid-division, driven to chase leaders 17th, no impression from 4 out
Benefit
167- Form 31-P348
- Age 11
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer Miss L C Siddall
- Jockey T Siddall
behind from 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 16th
- Form 3323-2P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer M Todhunter
- Jockey G Lee
in touch, led 5th until mistake and headed next, lost place half way, tailed off when pulled up before 15th
- Form 30-031U
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey P McDonald
mid-division, headway to chase winner 17th, ridden 3 out 2 lengths down and under pressure when blundered and unseated rider next
- Form 63P6-81
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer C R Wilson
- Jockey P Aspell
led to 5th, remained in touch, mistake 17th, left 2nd 2 out, soon ridden and one pace
- Form 53P32U
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey K Mercer
chased leaders to halfway, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form P0PP-05
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer A Parker
- Jockey B P Harding
always behind, tailed off when pulled up after 14th
- Form 52-P674
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey M J McAlister
in touch, led 6th, made rest, left clear 2 out, stayed on, eased near finish
In depth
Verdict
The shortlisted three are Sylviesbuck, Benefit and Dark Thunder, with the vote going to Dark Thunder. Now, it might seem a bit strange that the Ferdy Murphy-trained selection is not being ridden by Keith Mercer, who is down to ride the same stable's Chancers Dante. However, in what is not a strong race, Dark Thunder scores highly mainly by virtue of the fact that he is a course and distance winner - in which he landed some good bets. Ok, he has been raised 13 pounds for that but, as we say, this is not a strong contest. Benefit could go well as he is just five pounds above a winning mark and was placed off a rating of 84 three runs ago, although the downside is that he has been off since June. Sylviesbuck is also a course and distance winner - back in January 2004 off a five-pounds higher mark than today - and he has run well from around today's mark more recently. Of the others, Tee-Jay, has been hit hard for his Hexham win, but he has won from a much higher mark over hurdles and has to be respected today, while Ta Ta For Now has place claims on the best of his form, but Celtic Flow has a bit more to do than when winning a course and distance selling chase here on his latest start. All of which returns us to the choice, which is Dark Thunder.
Formwatch
Contract Scotland (IRE) 4-1fav (11-2) In touch when fell at the 14th in race won by Primitive Way (10-8) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Oct, 10 ran.
Cirrus (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Held up, headway 3 out, kept on from next, no impression on leading pair, 3rd of 9, 18l behind Dead Mans Dante (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 5f mdn chs (E) sft.
Briar's Mist (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Tracked leader when fell at the 5th in race won by Chabrimal Minster (11-9) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) sft in Oct, 6 ran.
Tee-Jay (IRE) 13-8fav (11-0) Mid-division, reminders 3rd, headway 14th, went 2nd next, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on gamely to lead flat, won at Hexham 3m 1f chs 0-90 (F) gf in Oct beating Swallow Magic (10-7) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Bright Steel (IRE) 3-1fav (10-13) Not fluent, towards rear, reminder 7th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up at the 12th in race won by Sharp Belline (11-11) at Kelso 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gs, 7 ran.
Dark Thunder (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Behind, bumped 1st, blundered and unseated rider at the 13th in race won by Mill Bank (10-11) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-90 (F) gs in Oct, 14 ran.
Celtic Flow 13-2 (9-11) Tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on flat, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f sll hcp chs 0-90 (G) gs in Oct beating Chris And Ryan (10-8) by 4l, 9 ran.
Chancers Dante (IRE) 9-4 (9-12) Bumped and unseated rider 1st unseated rider in race won by New Leader (10-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-95 (F) gf, 6 ran.