Racecards
15:20 Sedgefield
Margaret Hamilton's Hardwick Arms Novices' Hurdle (Class E)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer G A Swinbank
- Jockey P Whelan
tracked leaders, headway 3 out, joined leaders next, going well approaching last, driven out flat
- Form 000F/P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
behind when saddle slipped 1st, pulled up before next
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey P Buchanan
behind, outpaced halfway, kept on same pace from 2 out, never on terms
Fortune's Fool
199- Form P604-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer I Brown
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
behind, headway 2 out, ridden and weakened approaching last
Hetland Hill
159- Form 36-P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
raced keenly in rear, mistake 2 out, soon tailed off
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Hetherton
- Jockey G Lee
mid-division, headway 3 out, stayed on to lead after 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra
- Form 2P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
raced keenly, led and clear until stumbled and fell 4th
Scotmail Park
254- Form PP-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Jim Crowley
held up in rear when fell 2nd
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey R Garritty
held up in rear when brought down 2nd
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
chased leaders, left 2nd 4th, headway to dispute lead 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 22-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer B Rothwell
- Jockey A Ross
mid-division, headway 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
soon behind, lost touch 3rd, tailed off when pulled up after 2 out
Verdict
Capable but frustrating on the level, Transit seems to be following a similar route (career wise) over timber as well and cannot be backed with any confidence, so we prefer to side with Liberty Seeker, who gets the verdict over Celtic Blaze. The last mentioned remains unexposed over hurdles after just two starts last term when finding one too good on each occasion. Brian Rothwell's filly should strip fitter for a recent return on the flat and rates a bigger danger than Transit, who continues to disappoint and remains a maiden under both codes. Michaels Dream has been on the downgrade for some time on the flat and is probably best left out of calculations, while Len Lungo's Hetland Hill seems to be one of the stable's lesser lights. Very little of the remainder make much appeal and, if Liberty Seeker can reproduce the same level of form that he showed over course and distance on his hurdles debut over course and distance last month, Alan Swinbank's gelding should take plenty of beating. Bought out of Mick Channon's stable to go hurdling, the son of Machiavellian made a pleasing start to his hurdles debut when belying odds of 25/1 and is taken to follow up that win.