Racecards
15:30 Sedgefield
Sm Thompson Steelplate Specialists Beginners' Chase (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £5,400 added
- Form 9P7-P86
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Haldane
- Jockey G Whillans
chased leaders, driven and dropped rear 5th, no danger after
- Form 8PP/68-7
- Age 10
- Weight 10-12
in touch, chased clear and easy winner 8th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 680P00
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
raced keenly, in touch, left chasing clear and easy winner 6th, lost place 8th, kept on under pressure from 2 out, never on terms
- Form 23-3222
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
tracked leader until left in lead and well clear 6th, stayed on well, unchallenged
- Form 9U0P5P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer K J Burke
- Jockey Miss L Horner
held up in rear, headway to go 2nd 3 out, kept on from next, no chance with winner
- Form 0-05343
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer J & S Quinn
- Jockey D C Costello
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Henry Daly sends only his second runner to Sedgefield in the past five seasons and it could be significant and we'll take BEHERAYN to score from Professor Higgins and Master Nimbus. The selection loves to hear his hooves rattle and was rated the best of this lot over hurdles. The minimum trip remains his optimum but he does have issues. He fell on his chasing debut when tanking along in front and he jumped violently left when tried at right-handed Kempton next time. He returns to the track after a four month absence here and with the yard now in form and hopefully those jumping issues ironed out at home we'll side with him. Professor Higgins has only finished out of the frame twice in 10 career starts. Trip and ground suit, and he has run well here before, so he has to be short list material. The same goes for Master Nimbus, who relishes fast ground on the level and stays 1m 4f in that sphere, so perhaps he will come into his own over further than this over fences. Fortune's Fool perhaps looks best of a poor remainder judged on some of his old form, but Beherayn is the one for us.
Formwatch
Beherayn 9-2 (11-0) Jumped left throughout, led, blundered 3rd, went badly left when mistake next, soon headed, raced in 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, went 3rd approaching last, 3rd of 5, 21l behind Doctor David (11-0) at Kempton 2m nov chs (3) gd in Nov.
Billsgrey (IRE) 200-1 (10-7) Always behind, mistakes, 6th of 9, well behind High Bird Humphrey (10-11) at Catterick 2m mdn chs (4) gd.
Fortune's Fool 33-1 (9-12) Prominent, ridden 3 out, no impression final 3f, 7th of 16, 25l behind Alloro (11-7) at Catterick 2m 3f ldy hcp hdl (5) gs in Feb.
Lindseyfield Lodge (IRE) 150-1 (11-8) Behind, tailed off from 4th, 10th of 16, well behind Sparkling Montjeu (10-0) at Catterick 2m sll hdl (5) gd.
Professor Higgins (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Left in lead 3rd, headed 3 out, every chance until held post, 2nd of 9, shd behind High Bird Humphrey (10-11) at Catterick 2m mdn chs (4) gd.
Whatadifference (USA) 150-1 (9-10) Mid-division, weakened 6th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Magnifico (9-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Feb, 15 ran.
Braddock Island 150-1 (11-0) Mid-division, hampered 8th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Sa Suffit (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) gs in Jan, 16 ran.
Master Nimbus 12-1 (11-1) Chased leader, led 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace after, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Merchant Red (11-1) at Wetherby 2m beg chs (4) gf in Nov.