Racecards
16:55 Sedgefield
Alan Merrigan Memorial Novices' Chase (Class E)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good
- Form 4-02651
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey B P Harding
led, jumped left throughout, clear 3rd, hit 6th, ridden and 2 lengths up when fell last
Didifon
12- Form 00-6033
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N McCormack
- Jockey Jim Crowley
tracked leader, mistake 8th, close up 3 out, effort and chance 2 out, 2 lengths down when left clear last
- Form 6-63023
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
held up in touch, not fluent, mistake 8th, soon pushed along, outpaced 4 out, left poor second last
- Form 4-55530
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer Miss Kate Milligan
- Jockey G Lee
held up in rear, pushed along 9th, outpaced 4 out, left poor 3rd last
In depth
Verdict
An uncompetitive contest and, barring accidents, this looks at the mercy of The French Furze. The Nicky Richards-trained gelding has proved himself a smart performer over hurdles and made a winning debut when landing the odds here earlier in the month. The son of be Ny Guest made severl jumping errors but hopefully will have benefitted from the experience and a clear round should suffice against weak opposition. Ex-Irish performer Didifon has shown a respectable level of form behind useful rivals in two chase starts to date but has plenty to find with the selection on hurdles form. Shalbeblue made a promising start to his chasing career over course and distance last time and can only improve so is preferred for the forecast spot.