19:50 Sedgefield

Thursday 30 August 2018

All16:5017:2017:5018:2018:5019:2019:50

Roflow Ventilation & Ductwork Systems Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:51 | Winning time: 3m 48.1s

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Selected odds by:

Chookie Royale⁹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-1| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 102

11/1

Been a good servant to his yard and connections under both codes of racing but makes limited appeal under top weight for this his handicap hurdle debut. Likely at least one or two are on more of an upward curve at this stage.

Form: 379-3

Intifadah^b,t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 99

6/1

Seems to have thrived since joining his current yard and it would be no surprise to see more forceful tactics employed after he finished with a good rattle last time out. Represents last year's winning yard, so well worth a betting check at least.

Form: 96-6343

Hazy Manor⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 97

28/1

Has shown glimpses of ability since switching to hurdles this year - her best effort came when second in a juvenile event at Catterick in June. More required but going the right way and sound place claims if rallying to the call.

Form: 4248-3

Strong Team⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny Cook| T: C Grant| OR: 96

3/1

Justified a bit of market confidence to land a modest handicap at Perth a month ago and has to merit a second look despite racing from an 8lb higher mark. This doesn't look much tougher, so the gelding deserves a place on the shortlist at least.

Form: 99-2V91

Crakehall Lad^b¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: A Crook| OR: 95| D

50/1

Losing run starting to mount up on the Flat and even the drop into a selling grade hurdle failed to work the oracle last time out. The profiles of others offer much more convincing reading material.

Form: 278/V86

Iolani^t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 94| DWS

9/2

Things have not worked out for this one-time Willie Mullins inmate and he looks one to be wary of as he makes his reappearance after having had wind surgery since his last run. This is his time of year but this season's form is uninspiring at best.

Form: 884P-V9

Smart Ruler³⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: James Moffatt| OR: 94| CD

17/2

Very well handicapped on the pick of his old form but his efforts haven't escaped the attention of the handicapper. The fact he was put up 3lb for finishing third at Cartmel last month suggests the handicapper has his measure just now.

Form: 40-4663

Life Knowledge^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J Kington| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 92

9/2

Shown some ability on the Flat this year but yet to show anything like the same sparkle when tried over hurdles before now. Big improvement needed and best watched.

Form: 324/666-

Kisumu^p,t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 82

16/1

Has ability but not won under either racing code - 0-16 is a damning static for his hurdling efforts. Something to find with Strong Team after their encounter at Perth and may again have to concede second best. (Seventh in this race last year.)

Form: P-8V734

Aladdin Sane^t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: H Hogarth| OR: 76

100/1

Completion record over hurdles could hardly be worse and the fact that he knows the jockey well is his only safe and redeeming factor. Others far more appealing on this occasion.

Form: PP-PU8

Hey Bob^t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: D B Hurst⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 74

7/1

Won a conditional riders handicap from his current mark last November but has been hard to win with since. Very much the stable's second string but ought to at least be a safe conveyance for his inexperienced rider, who takes 10lb off his back.

Form: 3-058B3

Non-Runners

Murchison River⁶⁶

Weight: 11-6| Age: 4

T: S England J: Jonathan England

Forecasts

Strong Team (3/1), Iolani (9/2), Life Knowledge (9/2), Intifadah (6/1), Hey Bob (7/1), Smart Ruler (17/2), Chookie Royale (11/1), Murchison River (12/1), Kisumu (16/1), Hazy Manor (28/1), Crakehall Lad (50/1), Aladdin Sane (100/1)

STRONG TEAM won with authority at Perth last month and the fact he has been given more time (recently missed an engagement back at the same course) to get over the exertions is very much in his favour. His previous experience of this course is a furher big positive and one which helps him get the nod in preference to old rival Kisumu and the improved Intifadah, who has to be respected as he represents last year's winning yard. Hazy Manor could also be good value for a place in the frame and is worth a betting check at least.