Sedgefield stage an eight race card, with the going at the time of writing being good to soft.
Hey Blondie is our first runner in the 11.50.am. He is the second produce of his unraced French bred dam to see a racecourse. Hey Blondie made his racecourse debut at Sedgefield back in September, but raced too keenly, and failed to get home in a bumper. He will now try hurdles for the first time, with Joe Colliver once again in the saddle.
Onenightintown makes his debut for us in the 12.52.pm, in Division 1 of the conditional jockeys handicap hurdle over the extended two miles, with Aiden Macdonald taking off 10lb. In four races over fences, and a further three over hurdles, Onenightintown over various trips, when trained in Ireland, has shown very little to date, and has been allotted an opening mark of 90.
Kisumu runs in Division 2 of the conditionals handicap at 1.22.pm , with Emma Smith-Chaston who has ridden him on three of his last four starts in the saddle. Just prior to lock down in March at Wetherby he came as close as he as ever done to losing his maiden tag, when going down by just 1/2 length. Unfortunately the handicapper saw fit to raise him 4lb, and on his return to racing at Sedgefield in September he was beaten a length and a half.He raced again 12 days later when he never got competitive at Kelso, with maybe the race coming too soon.
Foster'sisland had some very decent bumper form last season, rounded off with a good second at Catterick in March, with a previous winner 13 lengths back in third, so it was very disappointing to see him pulled up on his hurdles debut at Wetherby just over a month ago.It was his jumping which let him down that day, in what was quite a decent looking race. This race appears not to have the same strength in depth, and Joe Colliver retains the ride at 2.32.pm.
Our final runner is Rockcliffe at 3.40.pm, a 0-115 handicap hurdle.This extended two miles and three furlongs is probably his ideal trip over jumps, and the going should be OK as long as it doesn't get any softer.He was staying on at Sedgefield on his last start over two miles and one furlong, but is 4lb higher in the weights this time, but he does have the assistance of Emma Smith-Chaston taking off 7lb.
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Good luck to the connections, Newroc & Co, M H O G, Tasker-Brown & Partners, The Oakwood Nobels, and RM&T, SToomes, J Hill & Partners.