To Sedgefield, which with any luck will have warmed up enough come 10am... they appear confident, we shall see... below there're some musings to ponder as you please, not 'tips', more a way in for you to take a closer look if you wish and/or to note any stats etc both for today and for the future...
1.00 - Scottish Accent - of potential minor EW interest? May be worth a closer look... in any case Menzies/Moscrop have been going along ok in the last 30 days... 4/10,4p. When teaming up in C4 handicaps in the last 2 years.. 8/37, 13p, +46. Solid. This horse is still a maiden, the odd niggle about his attitude when under pressure, but he's not done much wrong the last twice - possibly doing too much too soon LTO, or being outstayed. A light weight in this ground may be no bad thing, for all this looks a deeper race. But I suspect they will be aggressive with this drop down in trip.
3.00 - Spirit Of Hale - the yard are going ok, but the Candlish/Quinlan combo is one worth noting around here... 10/45, 18p in the last 5 years, 6/15, 7p +26 in the last year. This is their biggest price one today and again of potential EW in interest in a race with extra places, as is the one above. He is moody, can take some riding, and may tail off. If he's on a going day he should be in there pitching. His last win was here, last February, same CD, when also a bog, and with a light weight. Both his chase wins have come on his 5th run of the season (in those two seasons he's had more then 2/3 runs without another extended break) which could be something, or nothing. The visor replaces the blinkers, and I suspect he will get an aggressive ride. I think he has to be up there to be seen to his best. But, it is a C5 handicap chase around Sedgefield, anything could happen! The fav could be hard to beat if in the same form as the last twice, but these horses race at this level for a reason. (slow, inconsistent, questionable jumping etc). But he does look in the form of his life, for the moment.
Candlish/Quinlan also team up in the 13.30, 2.30 and 3.30. Some shorter prices, of those, having had a brief look, I thought 'Barnay' in the 2.30 may be of most interest.
3.30 - Hot Gossip - anything Danny McMenamin rides around here is worth a look...
14/55, 21p, +16 in the last two years... 10/39, 13p, +16 in handicaps, 9/26, 10p all rides here in the last year. Trainer/Jockey are 6/14, 8p +11 when teaming up here in the last year. It's his only ride on the card. The horse... she's having a decent season... she won twice around here in November, and easily enough, before having a short break and returning at Ayr, where she ran ok over 21f in heavy, tiring a bit late on. Heavy is fine for her, but maybe not over that far. Although, I wouldn't be shocked if that was a prep/tune up for today. I'd be mildly surprised if she were out of the top 4 here, but then again, it is Sedgefield and I can't say its ever a track/quality of racing that i've ever read too well! You have been warned, for all that if they all tail off with any luck there's something useful above to absorb.
Finally... i'll mention Mr Oakley Brown...
He 'could' be a 7lb claimer to keep an eye on in the coming weeks. He started over here with Richard Fahey I think, used on the flat. Alan King used him a bit over jumps, before he headed over to Ireland to be with Joseph O'Brien. Those three trainers would know a thing or two about promising jockeys/jockeyship, so he must be well thought off. He's 15/122, 36p all rides in the last two years. I'm not sure if opportunities have dried up in Ireland, or whether Joseph's jumps string is small enough (and plenty for owners who use other riders) but it looks like he's come back over for the time being. He's got a couple of rides today (1.00 and 2.30) and four at Newcastle tomorrow, all for Brian Ellison - his flat experience may be useful there in those jumpers bumpers. Anyway, one to watch I think.
GL with any bets as always,
Josh
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