November 26 / 14.30 Sedgefield

14.30

Good

Chris Blanckley Birthday Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4066.37
  • 2m 3f 188y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
View Course
Chris Blanckley Birthday Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.30
  • Place: £2.30

Form: -U662P C

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Only just failed to exploit some help from the handicapper at Hexham (2m, good) last month but her latest run was very disappointing and her stamina for today's trip is not copper-bottomed; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

15th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 6f 44y

Class 3

14:25 Salisbury

Salsada

9st 9lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Seen far more often over hurdles in recent years and she's pretty useful, but pulled up in March on latest outing; stiff task in a three-runner race last September and that's her only Flat run since a creditable show over C&D (good to firm) in June 2022; down the weights but not solid.

9/1

1

15th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 6f 44y

Class 3

14:25 Salisbury

Salsada

9st 9lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Seen far more often over hurdles in recent years and she's pretty useful, but pulled up in March on latest outing; stiff task in a three-runner race last September and that's her only Flat run since a creditable show over C&D (good to firm) in June 2022; down the weights but not solid.

9/1

1

22nd Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

14:25 Kelso

Salsada

12st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Brian Ellison

Won two handicaps in a row at Sedgefield (2m4f, good/good to soft) towards the end of last year before tough Grade 2 task at Doncaster; however, only fifth when back in a handicap at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) last month and needs a bigger performance this afternoon.

14/1

16/1

  • Place: £3.70

Form: 6P67-4 C

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on the Flat last month, after a layoff; his recent fourth of six over hurdles at Market Rasen (2m4f, good) was much more encouraging and he's well handicapped on old form but, nevertheless, others have more convincing profiles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

21st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:25 Musselburgh

Punxsutawney Phil

12st 0lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Won over C&D in December and by 16l at Newcastle (extended 2m4f) in February, both from the front on good to soft; disappointing in his two runs in between and again on latest start but he was brought out quickly under a penalty in the latter; visor replaces his usual cheekpieces.

14/1

3

20th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 10y

Class 4

14:45 Huntingdon

Punxsutawney Phil

11st 12lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Won at Musselburgh (3m) in December and by 16l at Newcastle (extended 2m4f) last Thursday, both from the front on good to soft; disappointing in his two runs in between but he'd have a huge chance under this penalty if that form from last week (a narrow career best) is repeated.

2/1

3

13th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

15:25 Newcastle

Punxsutawney Phil

11st 11lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Won over 3m at Musselburgh in December (good to soft); rather disappointing in his two runs since and needs to bounce back.

16/1

OUR TIP

9/4

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 30-532 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Three-time hurdle winner, including in this race last year; now 10lb higher but ran big race in defeat at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft; first-time visor) this month and might have more to offer in the new headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:30 Uttoxeter

Harper Valley

11st 13lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Took step back in right direction when respectable fourth at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) last month and is now 1lb below his last winning mark but still needs to build upon that recent effort here.

16/1

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:30 Uttoxeter

Harper Valley

11st 13lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Took step back in right direction when respectable fourth at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) last month and is now 1lb below his last winning mark but still needs to build upon that recent effort here.

16/1

Form: -44U11 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
In excellent form this month, winning easily at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) and Fakenham (2m7f, good to soft); a 13lb rise for the first success has now taken effect and he has a 7lb penalty for the latter, making him effectively 20lb higher today, but he still commands respect in current mood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

6th Sep 2025

Good To Firm

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

16:12 Stratford

Laser Focus

11st 0lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Won on the Flat in May but was safely held on both hurdling starts this year (both in 2m handicaps in July) and reverts to this code after a very poor Flat run last month; stablemate Chillhi looks a safer option.

6/1

6

(2)

9th Aug 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:50 Newmarket (July)

Laser Focus

9st 7lb

J: Laura Pearson

T: James Owen

Had a good run of form in 1m2f-1m5f handicaps (1423) before tailed off in his last two hurdle races and he's a dual winner in that scene; some wellbeing concerns all of a sudden.

8/1

7th

1

24th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Worcester

Laser Focus

11st 8lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Won twice over hurdles in the autumn (2m4f/2m7f) and has been in good form on the Flat in recent weeks but was well beaten when back over hurdles on Saturday (2m; raced too freely) and has a point to prove here.

16/1

Form: 7-1523 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Came good over hurdles with wide-margin success at Southwell (2m4f, good) in spring and returned from break with two good efforts this autumn, including a close second over C&D (good to soft); moves up in grade today but still considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

11

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:37 Kelso

Knacker Trapper

10st 8lb

J: William Maggs

T: Andrew Crook

Didn't seem to stay 2m7f when below-par at Hexham last time, having run creditably on his two previous starts; could go well but on a long losing run.

10/1

9th

14

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

20:15 Hexham

Knacker Trapper

10st 9lb

J: William Maggs

T: Andrew Crook

Only win came in a Southwell novice handicap in May 2024 (2m4f, good); good run when second at Sedgefield last time (2m4f, good); stamina to prove, but could be in the mix.

12/1

2nd

7

1st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

16:40 Sedgefield

Knacker Trapper

10st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Andrew Crook

It's now 11 outings since his last success but he's been lightly raced this term and comes here on the back of a good third of 15 in 2m4f Newcastle handicap hurdle 18 days ago; can make his presence felt off the same mark.

7/1

Form: 432154 CD

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Just held on to win off a reduced mark at Bangor (2m7f, good) in September and is only 1lb higher here but he's getting long in the tooth now and wasn't quite in the same form on his last two appearances.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

25th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

15:47 Uttoxeter

Finisk River

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Veteran with seven hurdling wins on his CV; returned from layoff with fairly encouraging 2m3f run three weeks ago and may be better suited by this sort of trip nowadays but younger rivals appeal more.

20/1

4th

4

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 3

19:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Finisk River

11st 5lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Veteran who held on narrowly to capitalise upon some help from the handicapper here (2m7f, good) last summer, his seventh hurdling success; back down to the same mark now but had gone off the boil again when last seen in the autumn.

14/1

6th

5

26th Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

14:30 Sedgefield

Finisk River

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Just held on to win off a reduced mark at Bangor (2m7f, good) in September and is only 1lb higher here but he's getting long in the tooth now and wasn't quite in the same form on his last two appearances.

10/1

Form: 1P64P7 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Scored off 3lb higher at Hexham (2m4f, good) in June but has been in poor form since, often looking unenthusiastic; needs to turn a corner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 149y

Class 4

15:08 Newcastle

Belvedere Blast

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Several flights were omitted when winning at Market Rasen (2m7f, good; visor refitted) but consistent in the main and perhaps needs further than the 2m4f he ran over last time; not ruled out.

6/1

12/1

Form: /R0-08

Last run: 147 days

W: 12st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Made satisfactory stable debut on the Flat this month and is very well handicapped on the pick of his useful Irish handicap hurdle form; however, he has looked temperamental at times (once refused to race) and comes with risk; cheekpieces refitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(2)

31st Jan 2025

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 4

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Nibiru

10st 0lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: Jack Jones

Ex-Irish veteran who scored here (2m) last month on second Flat start for new yard, taking AW record to 3-14; may remain competitive, having gone back up just 1lb.

13/2

5th

3

(2)

31st Jan 2025

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 4

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Nibiru

10st 0lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: Jack Jones

in touch with leaders, outpaced over 2f out, switched right when rallying inside final 110yds, kept on

13/2

1st

1

(1)

20th Dec 2024

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 4

15:27 Southwell (AW)

Nibiru

10st 3lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: Jack Jones

Won a claimer at Dundalk (10.6f) in October and he stayed on well for fourth here (1m6f) on his stable debut the following month; has each-way claims on that form but this 9yo is not easy to predict and was well held back over hurdles last time; risks attached.

14/1

Form: 6P/P-P D

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Managed to win a point in March but this regressive 9yo achieved nothing when 80-1 for this month's rules return at Ayr (2m4f, good) and remains difficult to enthuse over.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

17th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 71y

Class 5

12:30 Catterick

Fugitives Drift

11st 8lb

J: Miss Lucy Brown

T: Gary Rutherford

prominent

50/1

9th

4

17th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 71y

Class 5

12:30 Catterick

Fugitives Drift

11st 8lb

J: Miss Lucy Brown

T: Gary Rutherford

prominent

50/1

9th

8

26th Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

14:30 Sedgefield

Fugitives Drift

10st 10lb

J: Miss Lucy Brown

T: Gary Rutherford

Managed to win a point in March but this regressive 9yo achieved nothing when 80-1 for this month's rules return at Ayr (2m4f, good) and remains difficult to enthuse over.

100/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £206.50
Straight Forecast £137.17
Tricast £450.62
Trifecta £730.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Harper Valley

RP RATINGS:

Laser Focus

The Times:

Knacker Trapper

The Guardian:

Knacker Trapper

TOPSPEED:

Harper Valley

Telegraph:

Harper Valley

Daily Mail:

Harper Valley

Daily Mirror:

Harper Valley

The Sun:

Harper Valley

Daily Record:

Harper Valley

POSTDATA:

Laser Focus

D Express:

Laser Focus

The Star:

Laser Focus