15:15 Sedgefield

Thursday 23 February 2023

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:25

MW Paving And Groundworks Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 6m 58.9s

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Selected odds by:

Thatbeatsbanagher^p⁹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: K Brogan| T: B Haslam| OR: 100| CD

7/4

C&D winner in September and returned to form when fourth of 14 in handicap hurdle (22/1) at Newcastle (23.7f, soft) 98 days ago, faring best of those held up. Yard quiet but he has claims.

Form: 2-40194

Secrets De Famille³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: S Mulqueen| T: N Mechie| OR: 90

150/1

Only poor form over hurdles and showed little when eleventh of 13 in maiden at Dundalk (12f) on Flat debut 36 days ago. Significantly up in trip. First run for yard after leaving Peter McCreery. Hard to fancy.

Form: 08050P-

First Man^t,v¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 88

15/2

Missed all of last season but proved he retains ability when third in 19-runner event at Doncaster last month, finishing ahead of The Blame Game. Attracted support before running no sort of race back over fences last time but has good chance on pick of form back hurdling.

Form: 31/0P37

The Blame Game⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 88| C

7/1

Both hurdle wins gained over 2½m at this course, the latter in August 2021. Small step back in the right direction when fifth in 19-runner event at Doncaster (24.4f, soft, 33/1) 44 days ago. Almost a stone below last winning mark and is interesting on return to Sedgefield.

Form: 69-8PP5

Redbridge Rosie^p1,h²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 82

15/2

Minor promise in mares' novice and maiden last spring but evidently hasn't progressed and looked a hard ride when fourth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Fakenham (23.4f, good to soft) 21 days ago. Cheekpieces now applied.

Form: 447-434

Benny Baloo²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 81

5/1

No threat in trio of novice/maiden hurdles but he did win a point and yard have had success with the family, so he's not written off now handicapping despite steep-looking opening mark.

Form: 6U1-046

My Strong Man^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 77

10/3

Runner-up at Catterick on New Year's Day and shaped as if still in reasonable form when sixth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Wetherby (24.1f, soft) 28 days ago. Respected in this company.

Form: 9F/3626

Hideo^b²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 69

40/1

Had some fairly useful form over hurdles/fences in France at the beginning of his career. Yet to offer much in Britain though, pulled up in handicap chase at Catterick (19.2f, good) 20 days ago.

Form: 69P0PP

Forecasts

Thatbeatsbanagher (7/4), My Strong Man (10/3), Benny Baloo (5/1), The Blame Game (7/1), First Man (15/2), Redbridge Rosie (15/2), Hideo (40/1), Secrets De Famille (150/1)

Both of THE BLAME GAME's career successes have come here at Sedgefield and a chance is taken that he'll be able to build upon the minor promise of his recent Doncaster effort now up in trip. First Man finished ahead of the selection there and is a danger if able to bounce back from a poor effort over fences, with Benny Baloo rating an interesting handicap newcomer.