February 23 / 14.54 Sedgefield

14.54

Soft

BBC Makeadifferenceawards Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4066.37
  • 2m 3f 188y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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BBC Makeadifferenceawards Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.30
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 40/097 CD

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 4lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Dual C&D winner in December 2021 (both times on soft); returned from long absence with two heavy defeats this season but last month's C&D seventh offers some renewed hope.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

10th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

18:20 Sedgefield

Cailin Dearg

11st 1lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Rose Dobbin

Gained all three hurdling wins over C&D on soft ground, most recently when holding on well from a next-time-out winner in February (front pair clear); still on a workable mark after 6lb rise and today's faster ground will also suit.

4/1

3rd

7

10th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

18:20 Sedgefield

Cailin Dearg

11st 1lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Rose Dobbin

Gained all three hurdling wins over C&D on soft ground, most recently when holding on well from a next-time-out winner in February (front pair clear); still on a workable mark after 6lb rise and today's faster ground will also suit.

4/1

7/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 466200

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Well down the field in handicaps at Cheltenham (2m) and Ascot (1m7f) towards end of last year; sure to appreciate this ease in grade and should be fine over today's trip but is not yet proven on genuine soft ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Warwick

Redbridge Rambler

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Two good runs behind subsequent winners at Hereford and Catterick (both 3m1f, good) in late 2025; always struggling over an inadequate 1m7f at Wincanton (no headgear; cheekpieces return) in April and perhaps fortunate to get dropped 2lb; fair chance of another win.

7/2

5th

2

12th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 149y

Class 5

15:27 Wincanton

Redbridge Rambler

11st 13lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Martin Keighley

Suited by good or quicker ground; similar sort of form in his last four races in handicaps from 2m4f to 3m1f; this trip is on the tight side but he's in a weak race and might be ridden forcefully.

15/8

5/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 23-512 D BF

Last run: 56 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful on the Flat at his best and displayed improvement over hurdles to cause 80-1 shock on handicap debut at Doncaster (2m3f, good to soft) in December; not discredited when second to a next-time-out winner there (2m, good to soft) a fortnight later and ought to handle today's slower ground; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

1st Oct 2024

Good

2m 5f 28y

Class 4

15:00 Sedgefield

Wholeofthemoon

11st 1lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

held up in rear

14/1

8th

5

(10)

14th Sep 2024

Heavy

1m 4f 63y

Class 4

17:55 Chester

Wholeofthemoon

11st 3lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

steadied start, switched left soon after start, held up in last, struggling 5f out, soon detached, tailed off from 4f out

16/1

15th

12

(9)

10th May 2024

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

16:15 Chester

Wholeofthemoon

8st 13lb

J: Brandon Wilkie

T: Donald McCain

Below form sole start here, when upped to 2m last September on latest Flat outing (yard debut); 80-1 win on handicap hurdle debut at Doncaster (2m3f, good to soft) in December, followed by two respectable efforts but he was soundly beaten on latest start; others are a bit more persuasive.

18/1

Form: 5326

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 5yo who has been placed in two 2m3f novice hurdles at Catterick this season (good to soft/heavy); slightly disappointing in Doncaster maiden last month but still enters calculations on this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

13:30 Newcastle

Hawkseye View

11st 5lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Made it 12th-time lucky over fences when scoring over C&D (good to soft; from 2lb lower) three starts back; excuses since - fell, and then out of depth in a valuable Class 2 Series Final at Carlisle; could bounce back with Danny McMenamin returning to the saddle.

11/4

10th

12

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

16:27 Carlisle

Hawkseye View

10st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Mid-race faller last weekend when bidding for a Newcastle double (maiden under rules previously); ran respectably over C&D in February; 4lb out of weights but could go well with a clear round.

8/1

3

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

16:35 Newcastle

Hawkseye View

11st 11lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Point winner; won his first race under rules here last time (2m4f, good to soft; cheekpieces on for third time); seems equally effective at this trip and should go well off this 3lb higher mark.

7/2

Form: 3/2-14 C

Last run: 59 days

W: 12st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Scored over 2m1f here (soft) on hurdling debut in November and his C&D (good to soft) fourth on Boxing Day was perfectly respectable; should have some improvement to come in handicaps and commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 5f 137y

Class 4

18:40 Exeter

Thank You Blue

12st 0lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Jennie Candlish

Rattled off a hat-trick at Ludlow (2m) in February but he beat only one off a 7lb higher mark in 2m1f Newcastle handicap six days ago; could bounce back off a 2lb lower mark.

6/1

5th

2

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 190y

Class 4

15:25 Newcastle

Thank You Blue

11st 13lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Jennie Candlish

Weakened when third of five (13-8 favourite) in this last year; back to form, completing a February hat-trick (Sedgefield twice and Ludlow, rising steadily in the weights); reportedly "ran flat" when pulling up at Ayr (2m5f, soft; from 5lb lower) latest; needs to bounce back.

4/1

Form: 6-41P4 CD

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Came good for Micky Hammond at sixth attempt, with clearcut C&D (good to soft) win on Boxing Day; not quite in same form when fourth at Catterick last month but the return to this track is an obvious plus and further progress remains possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

19th Feb 2026

2m 5f 28y

Class 5

16:17 Sedgefield

Halpha Soleil

12st 0lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Yet to win over fences; fair run having had a wind op at Doncaster last time (3m, soft) and could go well off his current good mark.

3/1

3rd

5

5th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 4

15:00 Doncaster

Halpha Soleil

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

Runner-up at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft) last May and runs off 8lb lower today; however, he struggled on his four starts towards the end of last year; major turnaround required on first run since wind surgery.

11/1

8th

11

2nd Nov 2025

Good

2m 4f 198y

Class 3

12:32 Carlisle

Halpha Soleil

10st 5lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

Stuck to his task very well when second at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft) in May but that took his record over fences to 0-7 and he may find this race too competitive; returns without the cheekpieces worn in his three previous races.

14/1

Form: 43-728

Last run: 65 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Made the frame in two bumpers last spring and was not beaten far in three novice/maiden hurdles (2m-2m1f) towards end of last year; ought to be suited by today's longer trip; no surprise if he features on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Marty McFly

11st 4lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Sandy Thomson

Prominent racer who made it 4-4 for 2026 (1m7f-2m4f, good to soft/good) at Carlisle last month; won by 3l last time and a 7lb rise may not stop this thriving 8yo, provided the forecast soft ground isn't an issue.

4/1

1st

4

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 2

15:17 Carlisle

Marty McFly

11st 3lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Sandy Thomson

Improving chaser who has won his last three, the first two at 2m4f/2m3f but last time coping fine with the sharper test of 1m7f around Catterick (good); up in grade here with a 7lb rise to deal with but he's got major momentum behind him.

9/2

1st

1

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 145y

Class 5

15:10 Catterick

Marty McFly

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Sandy Thomson

Won novice handicaps at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft) and here (2m3f, good to soft) in January; down in trip (won over 2m over hurdles) and on a career-high mark (went up 6lb for last win) but a contender.

2/1

OUR TIP

Form: 46600- D

Last run: 319 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Chase and dual hurdle winner for Gavin Cromwell in Ireland but absent since some disappointing efforts last spring and has a lot to prove on today's stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

26th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 1f 157y

Class 4

15:50 Plumpton

Shantou Lucky

11st 10lb

J: Nathan Howie

T: James Owen

Had a charmed spell for new yard earlier, five wins including one over C&D (good; also acts on soft); has run up to form only once in his last four starts though, following a revival at Fakenham last month with a tailed-off run at Windsor, and is still 6lb higher than the latest win.

100/30

5

2nd Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:30 Southwell

Shantou Lucky

11st 5lb

J: Nathan Howie

T: James Owen

Four class 5 wins shared between hurdles and fences since joining James Owen, hacking up in a Newton Abbot chase latest (3m2f, good to soft); a fifth race in 25 days, a step back up in class and most significantly an additional 20lb hike all ask different questions this time.

Evs

1st

2

19th Sep 2025

Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

16:55 Newton Abbot

Shantou Lucky

11st 13lb

J: Nathan Howie

T: James Owen

Revitalised 8yo who started off for James Owen with two hurdle wins in refitted visor this month (2m5f/2m4f) and barely came off the bridle when scoring by 12l over fences at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) on Tuesday; has further to go here but has good chance to extend winning spree under 7lb penalty.

8/15

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £41.80
Straight Forecast £35.09
Tricast £172.79
Trifecta £175.60

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Wholeofthemoon

SPOTLIGHT:

Thank You Blue

POSTDATA:

Halpha Soleil

TOPSPEED:

Redbridge Rambler

The Times:

Marty McFly

The Star:

Cailin Dearg

The Guardian:

Thank You Blue

Daily Mirror:

Thank You Blue

Telegraph:

Wholeofthemoon

Daily Mail:

Wholeofthemoon

The Sun:

Wholeofthemoon

Daily Record:

Wholeofthemoon

D Express:

Halpha Soleil