SEDGEFIELD – Tuesday 29th September

Going – Good To Firm

4.00 2m 4f Class 4 Beginners’ Chase

A contest one by the competitor whose jumping was the only one that held up over the course of the race.

BEAUTIFUL VISION was sticky at a couple of fences early on. However, he jumped nicely after that tucked away towards the rear off a strong pace. He had Spellchecker well held when the latter came down at the last. The tongue-tie was re-applied to apparent good effect here after being left off on his first run for the stable at Newton Abbot. He has plenty of decent form behind fair performers in Ireland though it’s taken 23 runs to get off the mark and his victory owed much to the failings of others. That being said, don’t underestimate Evan Williams’s ability to move his new charges forward.
YOUNG ALBERT hit one or two fences and jumped big at others. He took over the lead at the ninth but was coming to the end of his tether approaching two out and inherited second at the last. He needs to improve his fencing technique.
SPELLCHECKER was held up at the back and came there going well to two out. However, the tank emptied fairly quickly and he was tired when taking a nasty looking fall at the last. He may not forget that in a hurry.
NIPPER JOHN is rated 118, 3lbd higher than the winner, but he didn’t run up to that form here. His jumping wasn’t good enough on this occasion.
TAKE YOUR MARK never got involved and trundled round for a remote fourth. An 11-year-old, he seems to have come to chasing almost as an after thought and prospects don’t look good on this evidence.
EASBY PARK was held up but his jumping got increasingly erratic. He was detached by the ninth and completed tailed off. A return to school looks required.
COLONEL ARTHUR stormed off in front jumping exuberantly, but once headed at the ninth his jumping quickly fell to pieces and he didn’t last far before being pulled up.

4.30 2m 4f 0-110 Handicap Chase

PERPETUUM had shown very little in chases to date, but sometimes this quirky track can draw out some ability from the dark recesses. He was ridden just off the pace and picked off opponents from the thirteenth, staying on well from two out for victory. I would expect his trainer to bring him back to Sedgefield.
FRED BOJANGALS is not the easiest to win with, but he saves his best for Sedgefield. He stayed on from three out but though he was beaten no more than a length he never quite looked like getting up. One to list in similar events, but possibly not the one to back unless offered at decent odds.
TIGER O’TOOLE looked to be going well four out, but his rider didn’t find as much as he might have expected from that point and he trailed in a one paced third. That being said, this was a reasonable chasing debut against some more battle hardened opponents.
MORE LIKE IT didn’t get in a blow form the top of the hill. He needed a couple of runs to reach his beast last year, and this will have removed a few cobwebs.
CATEGORICAL, a newcomer to Lucinda Russell, is a fair performer at this level on his day, but he doesn’t win very often and can be frustrating to his followers. He never got close enough to get in a blow here. However his best runs in the last couple of years have been at Musselburgh, and his handler will no doubt be mindful of this.
PILCA isn’t always inclined to exert himself and this wasn’t a going day.
ORPHELIN COLLONGES settled mid to rear division and stayed there.
SUPPLY AND FIX occasionally shows glimpses of enthusiasm, and led to three out. Once he was headed the towel entered the ring swiftly. First time blinkers produced some speed but no extra resolution.
IT’S A ROOFER raced up with the pace until an argument with the eleventh saw him drop back quickly. He’s capable of a good deal better, though only twice a winner in 25 attempts and yet to score over fences.

Keith Donoghue showed his talents once again in scoring on Genari in the selling hurdle, and he has caught the eye of a few judges.