This comprehensive response addresses your query by working through all Sedgefield races in chronological order, identifying the TimeWise Master Top Two rated horses, summarising their recent form and comments, providing the Spotlight Verdict, listing relevant race statistics, and assessing the chances of the top two contenders.
1. 12.50 Canine Premier Flex Plus Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (2m 178y)
TimeWise Master Top Two Rated
National Question (IRE) (5yo, 10-6p)
Sassified (IRE) (7yo, 11-1b)
Recent Form and Comments
Horse
Recent Form (Figures)
Comments
National Question
124-51
All three wins (Flat/hurdles) have been on good ground. His latest win was a comfortable success on reappearance at Newcastle (2m1f) two weeks ago. He is up 4lb but still looks feasibly treated. He is considered a major player if he can transfer his form back to forecast slower ground.
Sassified
312355
She won four times over hurdles for Philip Hobbs/Johnson White, with her last success at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good to soft) in June. She has been disappointing in her last four runs, including a recent effort back on the Flat ten days ago. She has not been with James Owen for long and needs a major revival back in this sphere; she is running with another change of headgear.
Spotlight Verdict
Preference is for TANKING ALONG (nap), who returned to hurdling after a break with a close second at Perth last month. He remains feasibly treated off only 2lb higher and should make another bold bid. Recent Newcastle winner National Question is feared most, although Away She Goes was progressive in the spring and has claims if she can pick up where she left off. Four-time course winner Clean Getaway also enters the reckoning along with Bodygroove.
Ben Haslam (0-1-2) and Micky Hammond (0-2-4) have runners in this race.
Assessment of Top Two
Horse
Strengths & Suitability
Weaknesses
National Question
Comes off a recent comfortable winning run and looks feasibly treated despite a 4lb rise. His trainer, Adam Nicol, has a 78% run-to-form rate in the last 14 days.
Needs to prove he can perform effectively on forecast slower ground, as all three previous wins were on good ground.
Sassified
She is a four-time hurdle winner who has won on good to soft ground.
She has been disappointing recently (last four runs) and needs a major revival back over hurdles.
2. 1.24 vickers.bet Juvenile Hurdle (2m 178y)
TimeWise Master Top Two Rated
Genbu (3yo, 11-7t)
Stardrop (3yo, 11-0ht)
Recent Form and Comments
Horse
Recent Form (Figures)
Comments
Genbu
33331P
Drops back in grade after struggling in a Listed event. He looks fairly exposed after six attempts over hurdles already and his win at Wetherby (good) on his penultimate start was considered fortuitous.
Stardrop
226
He settled better when dropped out in a bigger field last time but still failed to progress over hurdles. He is unraced on ground softer than good, but his Flat form gives him a major chance in this race.
Spotlight Verdict
Judged on a combination of Flat and hurdles form, the strongest contenders are LUNAR ORBIT and Stardrop, preferred in that order.
Race Statistics
Category
Data
Age Groups (W-P-R)
3yo 2-4-16.
Fate of Favourites
21 (1 out of 2 favourites won).
Trainer Records
Michael & David Easterby (0-1-1) have runners in this race.
Assessment of Top Two
Horse
Strengths & Suitability
Weaknesses
Genbu
Benefits from dropping back in grade and already has a hurdles win.
Considered fairly exposed after six runs and his previous win was described as fortuitous.
Stardrop
His Flat form suggests he holds a major chance here.
He has failed to progress over hurdles recently and is unraced on ground softer than good.
A consistent sort. He opened his account in his last hurdles attempt and has placed in two chase starts since. Although campaigned mostly over 2m3f/2m4f, he is expected to cope with this drop back in trip and is deemed a likely player.
Platenium
654143
His last two hurdles attempts resulted in an account-opening win and a good third place. He may remain competitive, provided he jumps with greater fluency than he demonstrated in his sole previous chase attempt.
Spotlight Verdict
Barring mishap, FORMEL PARK (nap) may atone for the late exit that prevented a likely success at Ludlow. Independent Jimmy (second choice) holds solid-looking claims, while Platenium has possibilities if jumping fluently returned to fences.
Race history details are limited to one winner example in the source.
Trainer Records
None listed in the summary table for this race.
Assessment of Top Two
Horse
Strengths & Suitability
Weaknesses
Independent Jimmy
Consistent performer who is in good form. Holds solid-looking claims as he gives the impression he can cope with the slight drop in trip.
Primarily campaigned over longer distances (2m3f/2m4f).
Platenium
Comes into the race following an account-opening win and a good third over hurdles.
Must overcome jumping issues demonstrated in his previous chase attempt.
4. 2.34 Fairlight Studio Workshops At Sedgefield Racecourse Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (2m 3f 188y)
TimeWise Master Top Two Rated
Blue Topaz (5yo, 11-4t)
La Zoubida (FR) (5yo, 11-4)
Recent Form and Comments
Horse
Recent Form (Figures)
Comments
Blue Topaz
4P1-41
Made it fourth-time lucky in points. She was a workmanlike winner here on good ground in her second bumper start (first run after wind surgery). She should have every chance on this hurdle debut.
La Zoubida
210-
She is a promising recruit to hurdling. She won a bumper at Market Rasen (good to soft) following a debut second. Her form held up well in bumpers, finishing midfield in a Grade 2 at Aintree on her final bumper start.
Spotlight Verdict
Course bumper winner BLUE TOPAZ might be the answer with the benefit of a recent run under her belt, though Roses All The Way (second choice) and La Zoubida were every bit as good as the selection in bumpers and both are feared.
Race Statistics
Category
Data
Age Groups (W-P-R)
4yo 0-0-1, 5yo 1-0-4, 6yo 0-1-2.
Fate of Favourites
Race history details are limited to one winner example in the source.
Trainer Records
None listed in the summary table for this race.
Assessment of Top Two
Horse
Strengths & Suitability
Weaknesses
Blue Topaz
Bumper course winner who comes into the race following a win after wind surgery. She has the benefit of a recent run under her belt.
Her bumper win was described as “workmanlike”.
La Zoubida
Highly promising bumper recruit, with form suggesting she is every bit as good as Blue Topaz. Has won on good to soft ground.
She returns following a significant break of 224 days.
5. 3.09 Resolve Group UK Handicap Chase (3m 2f 59y)
TimeWise Master Top Two Rated
Emotional Roller (IRE) (7yo, 11-0)
Upfordebate (IRE) (6yo, 11-2t)
Recent Form and Comments
Horse
Recent Form (Figures)
Comments
Emotional Roller
51325-
Has a win and two seconds in seven runs over fences. This trip and today’s ground conditions are noted as fine. He can be a hard ride and takes some driving, but holds possibilities.
Upfordebate
6-511P
His form over fences has been inconsistent (“good or bad”), winning twice (3m, good) but pulling up or being tailed off on other occasions. He is handicapped to go well if he is on his game again.
Spotlight Verdict
It’s been all or nothing so far over fences with UPFORDEBATE but he’s a strong contender off this mark if able to show his form. The veteran Skyhill won last December after a similar absence and he’s second choice ahead of Emotional Roller.
Now 0-17 but has placed in his last two completed starts. He stays this distance (last run was 2m) and is noted as fine on all ground types.
Lillistar
732-23
Has been running well under both codes for a while. She won on the AW before finishing third on her return to hurdling at Wetherby (2m5f, good). She has clear claims otherwise, but might not want the ground to get too soft.
Spotlight Verdict
No More Bolero is respected on his first jumps run for James Owen and Lillistar would be hard to knock if the ground doesn’t get too soft. Devon Skies and Newport are others to consider but the suggestion is BALALLY PARK who looks a good bet to give his running.
Race Statistics
Category
Data
Age Groups (W-P-R)
5yo 0-2-4, 6yo 0-0-1, 7yo 1-0-6, 8yo 0-0-1.
Fate of Favourites
Race history details are limited to one winner example in the source.
Trainer Records
Philip Kirby (1-1-2) has runners in this race.
Assessment of Top Two
Horse
Strengths & Suitability
Weaknesses
Balally Park
Consistent placing in recent completed starts. He is fine on all ground and is tipped by the Spotlight verdict as a good bet to give his running.
He is a maiden (0-17).
Lillistar
Has clear claims based on recent consistent form, including an AW win and a third place over hurdles.
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