Weatherbys 'Birdie' Calendar 2018 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 3m 57.5s

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Selected odds by:

Sleepy Haven³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 125| D

6/1

A winner from a fairly similar mark at Leicester in December 2016 (2m good to soft) who has shaped well enough in testing conditions on a couple of occasions since (notably at Kelso). More moderate latest but this race represents a good opportunity.

Form: 94424-5

Sea Wall^h²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 120| CD

11/8

Landed a hat-trick earlier in the year (hurdle and two chases), and there's no denying that 2m on soft ground is his optimum conditions. Back with a pleasing effort off this mark at Newbury last month (3¾L runner up to Poppy Kay).

Form: 45111-2

Master Work²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 120

7/2

Cost €40,000 as a three-year-old, and made a winning start at Exeter in October (2m2f+ good). Not so strong over further at Ludlow since (didn't stay), and whilst unexposed over hurdles, looks on a high enough mark for his handicap debut.

Form: 14

Dinsdale^p²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: L Treadwell| T: M Scudamore| OR: 117| D

14/1

Largely a disappointment since winning a 2m soft ground juvenile hurdle at Newbury in March by 1¼L. His mark is falling slightly, but he lacks much in the way of obvious appeal based upon his more recent form.

Form: 3143-P7

Clayton^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117| D

3/1

Has form over this trip from much higher marks in the past (beaten 11L by Peter The Mayo Man off a mark of 126 in November 2016). Back last month from a year off, and might well have just needed both of those starts.

Form: 102/2-04

Forecasts

Sea Wall (11/8), Clayton (3/1), Master Work (7/2), Sleepy Haven (6/1), Dinsdale (14/1)

A tight and trappy contest. Clayton should be stronger and fitter, with this race being his third start back from a year off the track, and his current mark now looks workable. Master Work is an unknown quantity in this grade, but his opening handicap marks looks high enough on balance, whilst in many ways this race looks a good opportunity for the difficult to win with Sleepy Haven. However, the reliable SEA WALL is just about the pick of the field. A winner at this track over fences in March, he proved competitive from a much higher mark over hurdles on his seasonal return at Newbury last month, and should be capable of building upon that effort and sneaking in one more victory.