Racecards
12:20 Sedgefield
Highfield House Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £5,600 added
- Winner: £3,639
- 2nd: £1,068
- 3rd: £534
- 4th: £267
- Form 86/112
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer C Grant
- Jockey Diarmuid O'Regan
tracked clear leader, close up 5th, led when not fluent 3 out, shaken up when pressed next, driven and kept on flat
- Form 6-0
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Ewart
- Jockey Daragh Bourke
held up in rear, headway to track leading pair 6th, went 2nd after 3 out, upsides next, kept on until ridden and one pace flat
- Form P451-60
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs S J Smith
- Jockey Jonathan England
chased leaders, dropped toward rear after 3rd, struggling 6th, plugged on to take remote 4th approaching last, no chance with leaders
Politbureau
10- Form 6/P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Micky Hammond
- Jockey Joe Colliver
held up in touch, outpaced by leading trio 3 out, went modest 3rd approaching next, no chance with front pair
- Form 0/P4-2P7
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer S R B Crawford
- Jockey Mr Anthony Fox
tracked clear leader, close up 5th, led before next, headed 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened before next, tailed off
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N Bycroft
- Jockey Mr Garry Lavery
led, clear until wandered approaching 5th, headed before next, soon lost place, behind when fell 3 out
William Wild
10- Form 98-P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss T Jackson
- Jockey Tony Kelly
held up in touch, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
Verdict
JACKS LAST HOPE has already won two bumpers this year and split a couple of potentially useful Nicky Henderson novices on his hurdling debut at Aintree. He will be a short price to go one better here against modest opposition and can't be opposed. Winning pointer Not A Bother Boy has shown nothing so far under Rules while Royal Sea Breeze also has a lot to prove. Valentine's Gift did win twice on the Flat last year but recent form has been less impressive.
Formwatch
Jacks Last Hope 13-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, went 2nd after last, soon every chance, held close home, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Hunters Hoof (10-11) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Mixboy (FR) 25-1 (10-7) Led, headed over 6f out, weakened 3f out, 14th of 18, 42l behind Double W's (11-0) at Ayr 2m NH flat (6) gs in Oct.
Not A Bother Boy (IRE) 66-1 (10-5) Mid-division, lost place before 6th, soon behind, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Monbeg Theatre (10-12) at Southwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Politbureau 100-1 (10-12) Midfield, weakened before 5 out, behind when pulled up 3 out, in a race won by One Track Mind (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft, 13 ran.
Royal Sea Breeze (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Held up mid-division, headway before 7th, ridden after 4 out, weakened from 2 out, 7th of 13, 41l behind Lochnell (10-0) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs.
Valentine's Gift 6-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, ridden 3f out, never a factor, 7th of 9, 16l behind Card High (11-2) at Nottingham 1m 2f am hcp 0-60 (6) gs in Oct (flat).
William Wild 200-1 (10-7) Behind, struggling 5th, tailed off next, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by One Track Mind (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft, 13 ran.