December 26 / 15.10 Sedgefield

15.10

Good To Soft

Gary Wood Memorial Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £2614.08
  • 2m 0f 178y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Gary Wood Memorial Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Clear

16/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.30
  • Place: £1.90

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Plenty of bumper winners in pedigree and from a yard that can ready a newcomer; market should be a good guide to prospects on this debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

16:35 Kelso

Sagonige

11st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ruth Jefferson

Having attracted market support she was tailed off on hurdle debut at Ayr (2m, soft) last month, following a long absence; needs to prove how much ability she retains but this bumper winner failed to settle last time and shaped as though she needed the run; no surprise to see a good performance.

12/1

6th

8

29th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:13 Ayr

Sagonige

11st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ruth Jefferson

Won on debut in bumper at Sedgefield (2m1f, good to soft) in December 2023 and runner-up at Musselburgh (2m1f, soft) in April 2024; makes hurdle debut after a long layoff but trainer can ready one after an absence and she'll be an interesting contender if she retains her previous promise.

13/2

7/4

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 20

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair way in front of subsequent winner Vanilla Dancer when runner-up over C&D (good) on debut but was out of her depth in Listed event at Cheltenham last time; big chance back in this company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

14th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:15 Perth

Backdoorflush

10st 7lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

in touch with leaders, went third before 7th

7/2

2nd

2

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

15:10 Sedgefield

Backdoorflush

11st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

Fair way in front of subsequent winner Vanilla Dancer when runner-up over C&D (good) on debut but was out of her depth in Listed event at Cheltenham last time; big chance back in this company.

7/4

OUR TIP

4/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 31 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Didn't have to improve to win uncompetitive event under William Maggs over C&D (soft) last time; tougher task under a penalty in this stronger event.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:37 Kelso

Vanilla Dancer

11st 7lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

1-21 over hurdles, her win coming at Catterick in February; creditable efforts on all three runs since, including when second over C&D last month (good); sound run at Perth last time (2m5f, good); chance.

6/1

4th

3

6th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

16:00 Kelso

Vanilla Dancer

11st 12lb

J: William Maggs

T: Chris Grant

1-20 over hurdles; neck second in a mares' handicap here last month (2m5f, good); each-way chance.

3/1

2nd

3

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:10 Kelso

Vanilla Dancer

11st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Just one win from her 19 hurdle starts but that came at Catterick (1m7f, soft) in February and she made a bad mistake when fourth at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) next time; she'll be fine now back up in trip and back on better ground, and could give a good account.

7/1

Form: 5- BF

Last run: 247 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner who started favourite and ran well for a long way on rules debut at Plumpton in April; should improve and no surprise to see her run well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

27th Nov 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:35 Wetherby

Longhouse Legacy

11st 0lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: B F Brookhouse

Winning Irish pointer who showed promise in her three bumpers last season but was pulled up on her switch to hurdling at Chepstow where she raced freely and stopped quickly.

20/1

5th

7

27th Nov 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:35 Wetherby

Longhouse Legacy

11st 0lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: B F Brookhouse

led, already headed when not fluent and weakened 3 out

20/1

Form: 3-

Last run: 269 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner just over a year ago but was a well-beaten third of four at Uttoxeter in April; plenty more needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

10th Feb 2025

Good

3m 1f 54y

Class 5

14:30 Catterick

Northern Reel

10st 8lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

in rear

4/1

Form: 3

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ran respectably behind Vanilla Dancer on debut here but, although entitled to improve for that experience, she'll have to raise game by some way if she's to win this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

11

7th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

16:50 Market Rasen

Chantilly Dragon

10st 5lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Peter Niven

Well down the field after racing too freely on handicap debut here (2m4f, good) a fortnight ago; needs combination of drop back in trip and first-time cheekpieces to enable significant improvement.

16/1

9th

8

23rd May 2024

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

14:58 Market Rasen

Chantilly Dragon

10st 10lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Peter Niven

took keen hold, midfield, no impression after 3 out

25/1

9th

8

23rd May 2024

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

14:58 Market Rasen

Chantilly Dragon

10st 10lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Peter Niven

took keen hold, midfield, no impression after 3 out

25/1

Form: 7

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Big price and well beaten on debut at Wetherby last month; best watched again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

20th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

15:00 Market Rasen

Skys Your Limit

11st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Tjade Collier

didn't always jump with fluency, took keen hold, in touch with leaders, jumped badly left 2nd, soon lost ground, struggling before 4 out, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out

100/1

10

7th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

16:20 Carlisle

Skys Your Limit

10st 12lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Tjade Collier

Only poor form shown in bumpers and she was pulled up on her hurdling debut over 2m3f here last month; others are more persuasive.

100/1

Form:

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten on rules debut at Kelso in November and hard to recommend.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

8th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

15:20 Hexham

Norse Reiver

10st 4lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Gillian Boanas

midfield, reminder and lost position after 3rd, soon struggling, pulled up before 4 out

33/1

8

8th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

15:20 Hexham

Norse Reiver

10st 4lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Gillian Boanas

midfield, reminder and lost position after 3rd, soon struggling, pulled up before 4 out

33/1

8th

11

15th Oct 2024

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 5

15:35 Market Rasen

Norse Reiver

10st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Gillian Boanas

led

25/1

Non-runners

Blue Las

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.60
Straight Forecast £16.95
Trifecta £76.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Backdoorflush

The Times:

Sagonige

D Express:

Blue Las

Daily Record:

Vanilla Dancer

The Guardian:

Northern Reel

The Star:

Sagonige

RP RATINGS:

Backdoorflush

POSTDATA:

Backdoorflush

Telegraph:

Backdoorflush

Daily Mail:

Backdoorflush

Daily Mirror:

Backdoorflush

The Sun:

Backdoorflush