Scottish Double At Sedgefield

SEDGEFIELD – Tuesday January 20th

Going – Soft

A Scottish double in the chases, James Ewart striking for the third time in a week and Hawick based Alistair Whillans producing a chase debutant to win the handicap.

2.20 2m 0-90 Handicap Chase

THATLLDOFORME was held up early, progressing to challenge two out. It looked briefly as if It’s Bertie had the race won, but Thatlldoforme responded gamely when asked the question on the flat. This wasn’t a strong race, but this was a promising chase debut from a gelding that now has a record of 5 places in 10 attempts. He’s suited by soft or heavy and will probably be better over further since he proved competitive at 2m 7f over hurdles. He could just be on a decent mark at the moment.
IT’S BERTIE likes to trail-blaze, but didn’t seem to mind following a fast pace setter here. He led two out and looked the likely winner coming down the hill only to be run out of it close home. His attitude seems good enough and he should win a similar event.
STORM SURGE produced a personal best here. He was thereabouts all the way but held from before the last. He stepped up on his Carlisle effort and seemed more suited by the track here.
NAVAL ATTACHE was remote in fourth, having never been in the hunt.
BARTON SUN was struggling by the ninth and was beaten a long way in fifth.
ROYAL GLEN was never competitive. She showed some promise early this season, but here form has tailed off.
LUCOZADE showed much promise on his seasonal debut, running third over hurdles at Hexham, but his performances since then have been abysmal. He was behind early and lost touch in the last mile.
STONERIGGS SILVER made a howler and shot his rider out of the saddle at the fourth.
COOLDINE LAD was galvanised into action a couple of outings back by Tony McCoy, but has reverted to his previous dismal form. He pulled up here after chasing the leaders to the eighth.
CEDAR RAPIDS hared off in front but paid the penalty and faded quickly from the seventh before being pulled up.
AZTEC PRINCE and BULLIES ACRE made no show and pulled up before three out.

3.20 3m 3f Class 4 Maiden Chase

James Ewart made it three winners in quick succession as OVERLADY made the transition from maiden hunter class, having shown promise in that sphere last season. There wasn’t an awful lot of quality in this field, but it would be hard to crib at the filly’s performance here. She settled well and jumped economically, fiddling one or two when necessary. She joined the leader two out and was nudged clear, staying on nicely. Overlady is not the biggest filly, but she stays and jumps well.
BAY CHERRY was under pressure at the top of the hill but stayed on to get back into contention, though finding the winner too strong. He was a winner of a point in Ireland, stays well and handles the testing conditions.
PRE TOKEN led to two out, jumping well, but was tiring when coming down at the last. He’s got enough ability to wins races, but his jumping is letting him down. He could be interesting if he had the assistance of a senior jockey.
CAVE HILL finished a remote and tired third having lost touch from three out, but at least had a completion on his first chase effort. He was reported as finishing distressed.
GLENGAP pulled hard early, lost his position at the fifteenth and pulled up before three out. He won a point in Ireland, but his Rules form to date is dismal.
PADDYMcGINTYSGOAT was always behind and unseated two out.
STARK RAVEN showed up for a while but weakened from the twelfth and was pulled up.
THE ARTFUL FOX won a couple of moderate points last year, but never looked happy here and was dismounted after being pulled up at the fourteenth. He was miles behind in two previous chases.
MAOLISA was another who made no impact on the race, losing touch from the fourteenth and pulling up by the seventeenth.
The most intriguing thing about ESME RIDES A GAINE has to the derivation of her name……. She won a maiden point, but was soon detached jumping slowly and trailed round before being pulled up.