11:45 Sedgefield

Tuesday 26 December 2023

All11:4512:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:10

Download The Vickers.Bet App Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 11:45 | Winning time: 4m 53.05s

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Selected odds by:

Thank You Blue^t⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J Candlish| C

10/3

Placed in 2 bumpers for Sam Thomas 11 months apart and off a further 10 months before making a winning start over hurdles for new stable at this course (17f, soft) 47 days ago, asserting run-in. Has clearly had his fair share of problems so it remains to be seen if he builds on that.

Form: 3/2-1

Imperial Rule^t1⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: William Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies

50/1

Placed on the last of 3 starts in Irish points (Apr 30) but was reported to have a breathing problem when well held on his Rules debut at Carlisle in November. Fitted with a first-time tongue strap and can only be watched at present.

Form: 4R-339

Kilbarry Hill^t1²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Lewis Saunders⁽¹⁰⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 109| BF

5/2

Runner-up twice from 5 starts in Irish points and shaped well sent hurdling under demanding conditions when third of 17 at Warwick (2m) in November. Similar form upped in trip when second at Bangor since and ought to be thereabouts again under a rider able to claim 10 lb. Tongue tied.

Form: P522-32

Nearly Wed¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr William Easterby⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby

50/1

Runner-up twice in Irish points but well held completed start over hurdles.

Form: P272/9P

Panhandle Slim²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr

11/4

Finished in the frame in a couple of above-average bumpers and again showed a fair bit of ability sent over hurdles when second of 8 in a Bangor novice (16.6f, heavy) 24 days ago. Open to improvement.

Form: 6242

Wild Side Of Life³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Reed| T: L Morgan

9/4

Easily opened his account in Irish points at third attempt in April and made a promising start to his Rules career when beaten only by a promising mare at Wetherby (19.7f, soft) in early November. Departed before the race began in earnest in Cheltenham Grade 2 last time and remains open to progress.

Form: 331-2U

Wotyoudunnow Buddy⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Coltherd| T: S Corbett

50/1

Showed fair form on the second of 3 outings in bumpers but has been pulled up both starts over hurdles.

Form: 43-7PP

Flexi Lady²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Callum Bewley| T: G Boanas

150/1

Just poor form at best in a trio of bumpers so easily passed over on hurdle debut.

Form: 9-85

Forecasts

Wild Side Of Life (9/4), Kilbarry Hill (5/2), Panhandle Slim (11/4), Thank You Blue (10/3), Imperial Rule (50/1), Wotyoudunnow Buddy (50/1), Nearly Wed (50/1), Flexi Lady (150/1)

WILD SIDE OF LIFE shaped well behind a promising mare on her Rules debut at Wetherby prior to departing before the race truly began to develop at Cheltenham last time, so he's very much the one to beat back in calmer waters. Kilbarry Hill has the services of the yard's 10 lb conditional, who opened his account on Friday, and is feared most ahead of Panhandle Slim.