Southwell & Sedgefield - Tuesday 26th November 2024

I think it is fair to say that there is pretty moderate grade racing taking place this Tuesday in England with Southwell and Sedgfield the battlegrounds on a dank autumnal afternoon. Southwell is probably just about better known as an all-weather track these days but Sedgefield is jumps and jumps only. It may play host to mostly low level affairs however, the course is a true stalwart of the game. Horses have battled it out against each other in this sleepy little corner of County Durham since 1732, nearly 300 years ago. Pre 1994, the run from the last fence to the finish line was an stamina sapping 525 yards (longer than Aintree's National Course) due to the positioning of the water fence. Those days may be behind us now although subsequent King George and American Grand National hero Hewick stormed to victory in the 2021 running of the Durham National which I'm sure will be used to promote the track for the years to come. Anyway, enough eulogising and let's knuckle down to to business. 

Sedgefield

13:25, Download The New Vickers.Bet iOS App Handicap Hurdle

Bathgate 4/1 (each-way 4 places)

This Class 5 event probably wouldn't jump out at you on first look through the card but on closer inspection it's a wide open affair and any one of about 4 of the 13 runners could be sent off favourite. There are not many 1's to be found in the recent form lines so eyes are drawn immediately to last time out winner National Question. He's up 5 pounds for winning another Class 5 at Hexham 18 days ago however, that was by a neck from a 76 rated, 32 raced maiden. The 3rd and 4th from that race have also yet to taste victory. The suspicion is that it was a much more moderate race than he finds himself in today. Trafalgar Square must come into consideration too as a lightly raced 4 year old on his first foray into handicaps although I'm a slightly keener on the chances of the 9 raced maiden Bathgate. Philip Kirby's 4 year old finds himself 8 pounds lower than when starting out in handicaps in the summer however, his last 3 runs have offered plenty of optimism. He was 5th at Kelso in October over 2 miles 5 furlongs, but he cruised into the home straight looking the winner before tiring badly over the final 2 flights. It's worth noting that the winner that day (Double Powerful) has won 3 times since, including at Cheltenham off a mark of 114. In fact, even the runner up (Starlyte) has won both his subsequent races off marks of 93 and 100. I think it's fair to say that race was a severely more competitive than this. Bathgate followed that up by going down narrowly at Ayr when dropped 2 furlongs in trip, again traveling best. He ran a similar sort of race when 4th over the same course and distance 13 days ago (sent off the 9/4 favourite). Hopes are now pinned on a further drop in trip to the bare minimum 2 miles. Joe Williamson rides again (as usual) and his last 3 rides for the stable have yielded results of 3rd, 2nd, 1st. He should be going very close and will hopefully shed his maiden tag here. 

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Southwell

13:40, Watch Unbridled On attheraces.com Novices' Handicap Hurdle

The Blueberry One 9/2

Solar System 6/4 (saver)

I may be mad as a Blueberry but Harry Derham's thrice raced 5 year old makes some appeal on his first run in handicap company. I saw him at Newbury in February when he finished a fair 6th of 13 in a Novice Hurdle over 2 miles on heavy ground. The winner that day (Making Headway) went on to finish 4th in the Imperial Cup off a mark of 129, this will be a whole lot easier. In fact, The Blueberry One had Hasthing 4 lengths in behind him that day who has since been sent off 3/1 fav for a big handicap hurdle at Sandown and was most recently 5th off a mark of 119 in a Novice Chase at Chepstow. The Blueberry One didn't pull up any trees when 7th on his 3rd and final run last season but now finds himself off a very lenient mark of 101 and up 4 furlongs in trip for handicap debut. His trainer knows the time of day and could hardly have found a much easier race for his runner to start off his handicap career. Solar System is the obvious favourite and most likely winner of the race having escaped a penalty for his win 6 days ago and looks the play to cover the stake money. 

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Southwell

15:10, Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle

Illucidate 12/1 (each-way 4 places)

I'm plumping for one at a double-digit price in here for the 3rd selection of the day and hope to take advantage of the 4 places being offered by most bookmakers. Illucidate is one of the lighter raced runners in the race, this being just his 5th run over hurdles and he arrives off a break of 203 days. He's a strong traveller who has struggled to finish off his races. However, he was dropped 2 pounds for his 4th placed finish at Southwell last time out. Again he travelled well before coming under pressure between the last 2 flights but he was very badly hampered by a faller at the last when looking likely to battle it out with the re-opposing Northern Rose for 3rd place (with whom he is now 6 pounds better off with). The Nicky Henderson trained Therapist was the winner that day and she is now rated 105. Jumping Jupiter was runner up in that race and has won since; he's now rated 104. Top weight here is off 94. This looks a much easier race to start his season off in and Amy Murphy's stable has been in fair form on the flat for the past 2 weeks. He has yet to win and must give plenty of weight away to the likely favourite but at the prices he looks the value play in the race.