When I first visited this small compact track back in 2009 it produced a series of polar reactions. For a start the homemade sign announcing this was Caribean night did not seem to be that inspired. The piped music was a lazy low quality calypso, the racecard was a piece of A3 ingeniously folded by an oregano expert and it cost me £14 to get in. The bar was packed and it was difficult to get decent food, the only easy access hot food was basic lay-by specials which didn’t appeal. The view of the racing was moderate not aided by the absence of a large video screen. Finally the management pushed the race start times back by five minutes in its entirety for no particular reason. However on the plus side there was plenty of free parking, this wasn’t the most expensive grandstand / paddock ticket I had bought, the racecard was free and at least there was a big enough crowd to pack the bars and provide a good atmosphere. The paddock was right in front of the stands, you could see enough of the races to know what was going on and there were plenty attending who got into the swing of the Caribbean theme by dressing up in fancy clobber to show that the promotion worked.
So has much changed in the past two years or so to report, could Sedgefield get itself on the leader’s board? The course is set outside of the town and a bit of a hike to be honest but not enough to put it in the Ryanair league. Getting to the track by car I was met by the incredulity of a full car park and having to ditch the car adjacent to a farm entrance which did my customary gruff demeanour no favours whatsoever. Tracking through the sludgy potholes strewn throughout this excuse for a facility I could see that there were some spaces and a bit of organisation from the ever helpful car park patrol men would have squeezed the dozen or so abandoned cars in. I think I had a lucky escape in truth as getting out looked akin to some of Mumbai’s very worst bottlenecks engineered and sponsored by the local bodyshop repair company.
Getting in was good value at £15 as there was an access all areas policy bar a couple of hospitality suits. None of this snooty north/west Yorkshire thing going on as seen earlier in the year. Big plus was that the racecard which was only £1 and was a decent quality as well so well done on that front. The PA crackled to life in the early part of the afternoon with some announcement such as details of the two stewards’ enquiry results. The fact that there were two ‘stewards’ in the first two races and then nothing (despite the near death of a member of staff detailed later) seems to suggest that the old horse wore off as the day progressed and perhaps the stewards box which had been taped off with that red and white stripy stuff beloved of crime scene demarcation was present to prevent errant racegoers per-chancing on the vision of three tweed encased figures sweating profusely and twitching in the foetal position begging for nanny morphine. Nonetheless it all gave me a reasonable impression of efforts to communicate effectively with the customers. Talking about stewards’ enquiry I remember a top jockey being fined £3140 for misleading a stipe. First off this seems a peculiarly exact number and second how did he mislead him. Was it ‘we’ll just plod around today’ which led the stipe to lay leading to a rather unique number, or was it ‘yes there is no talc in it’ which led to the stipe saying ‘I’ll have the lot for all the money I am carrying’. Only to find it was mainly bicarb. Who knows but I think we should be told.
There was a massive marquee as you came in as there was some kind of promotion going on today and this was probably why a nondescript card attracted a big turnout for a November midweek fixture. Notice that this was a public feature was highlighted in the programme by the general manager who urged all to drink responsibly. On review of the Sedgefield team you have to ponder as to whether H2O2 is mandatory and using a black pen to colour the hair in on the thumbnail photos of the group during a whistful wait for the result of the first stewards I concluded that at least two would look particularly attractive if the hair matched the eyebrows and if Phil T also could get the shears out and set them to number 4.
The stands at Sedgefield do not appear anything out of the ordinary but there is a rather unique viewing position from the paddock steps which gives an almost head-on vista that is excellent. In fact the closeness of the racing, the fact that you can see the final fence clearly from the paddock rail and that the position by the bend after the winning line is similarly a decent place to watch from makes this one of my favourite tracks to watch racing from. I have to admit to really liking the general layout in what is a pretty tight pocket of a site.
The paddock was not a bad size considering the dimensions of the enclosures and had a bit of a gradient but nowhere near Downpartick proportions. However not a tree or shrub or potted conifer to be seen. The paddock did witness a shocking incident during one of the races when a loose horse galloping up the home straight suddenly decided to exit for the paddock, didn’t see the plastic barriers and then crashed through them, taking out a man standing by the barrier and the horse was last seen heading towards the car park where no doubt the patrolmen would have warned him that there was nowhere to park so feck off to that farmer’s field over the road if you wouldn’t mind. The press association’s ticker tape on this one reads; ‘A member of the Sedgefield racecourse staff had to be taken to hospital after a loose horse careered off the course during this afternoon's meeting.
Braddock Island charged off the track, over the rail and into the area between the pre-parade and parade ring - where the middle-aged man was standing.
Trainee clerk of the course Phil Tuck said it was unclear whether the horse or the rail had hit the middle-aged man, who received emergency medical attention at the course and was later taken to hospital.
There was no delay to racing.’
That’s very good news to hear racing wasn’t delayed. The fella clobbered probably was relieved of that but more likely he had the grim vision of seeing the old ‘deathscreens’ come up around him and he must have thought he had suddenly morphed into a poor quality chaser about to meet Mr Cattleprod for possibly the first but definitely the last time
The entrance to the course was hardly enticing but not downbeat in my opinion and there were neither artefacts nor architectural features to mention. No water features could be seen so featureless is one way of summarising the experience. The going was good to soft and in truth looked perfect jumping ground with a good covering of grass.
The food was a great improvement on the previous visit where I was less than impressed. There was a van selling generous sized pork rolls and baguettes which were a little pricey at £4.50. A cup of tea was nice and hot, decent teabags used and fresh milk so for £1.40 I thought it was a fair price and good quality. Still not keen on some of the more flimsy cups you end up getting. I had my scran from the marquee. Even though there was plenty of demand I didn’t hang around long in the queue as the staff were very efficient and got things moving in a quiet way. The food was mince pie and peas plus I put some mint sauce on the side which is exactly what you should have with peas. It was hot and very tasty so for £2.90. I was more than happy. Great effort and pushing for the old cloche I would say.
It is a quirky course. It has plenty of undulations especially down the home straight. Here there is a significant hill providing a drop down to the second last. It flattens out up to the last and there is final uphill ramp halfway along the one furlong run in. The bend immediately after the winning line looks very tight but all the horses in the handicap hurdle handled it well. The view as the run from the third bend to the final bend of this one mile two furlong oblong track is spectacular. If you are here for an evening meeting as the light begins to wane the runners silhouetted as they galloped along what looks from a distance as a ridge is an enduring image of a special little track. Sedgefield appears to be a tight circuit being left handed and its short run-in would make you think it would not favour a hold up horse. However with the exception of the very useful all the way winning novice hurdler many winners from both visits here have come from off the pace. Typically the winner would be produced from the top of the hill to lead at the last maintaining momentum.
Sedgefield will be always synonymous with the election of Prime Minister Tony Blair and the whole New Labour phenomenon. But you cannot move off the New Labour story without recourse to Baron Mandleson who was one of the gang of four alongside Prescott and Campbell. So is it out of synch with socialism to accept peerages? Is it incongruous to be a Londoner and then parade around with your Hartlipool United scarf like some monkey hanging coalfisher? But to be fair to Pete he did have strong left roots, he embraced much of the mantra but got heartily sick of where 1970s Labour was heading and grew up realising that to affect change you need first to secure power and to secure power you need to have a plan to convince the right people in the right numbers to do so. Whatever you might say about him he is a bright fecker.
The most prestigious race of the year at Sedgefield is the Durham Grand National which is run in April. A list of race winners hand-painted onto a display board is proudly exhibited near the entry to the main grandstand. There have been many interesting horses listed over the years. The most noteworthy is the three times winner and Aintree hero Rubstic who cost 500 guineas as a yearling by a Coronation Cup winning sire (who was third to the great Sea Bird in the Derby by the way) and out of a dam who was also to throw the useful staying handicap chaser Bennachie. Looking through my Timeform annuals the first full season I find is 1975/6 when as a seven year old trained by Penrith handler Gordon Richards Rubstic was viewed as a useful staying chaser rated 134. His form figures for the season were 031122P34. His pipeopener was over two and half miles before winning at Cheltenham and Haydock with placed efforts in high quality long distance events at Newcastle and Haydock. 1976/7 was not a good season for Rubstic where his rating dropped to 107 and was actually thought a better hurdler at this time where 111 was the figure. He started off with two pulled ups and this led to a change of scenery and he was off to Scotland and in particular Denholm where his trainer Leadbetter was based. He ran ok over hurdles at Wetherby when third and rounded off with a chase third at Ayr. PP33 looks poor but he ended up well handicapped. So as a nine year old staying chaser he was near his peak for the 1977/8 season. He ended up that season approaching his best rating at 124. He was kept entirely to staying chases and his figures showed a good consistent season of 43431244120. His first win of the year was a tightish finish to a three and a half mile handicap chase at Haydock where he set a new record time for the course and distance. The second was opening his Durham National account by an easy eleven lengths over the three and a half at Sedgefield. His penultimate race was his second runner up in the Scottish Grand National, the first occasion being back in the 1974/5 season behind Barona when trained by Bell. The season as a ten year old is often optimum for a staying chaser. It proved to be the most successful for Rubstic as the results show for 1978/9. Although he ended at a rating of 124 he did win the Grand National this year and ended with form figures of 0420211. This featured a second successive Durham Grand National win at Sedgefield as a prelude to winning the Aintree original. Despite entering the veteran stage Rubstic returned his highest form rating at the end of the 1979/80 season with 140. His form figures were 0433411F0. He picked up a stayers chase at Kelso followed by a hard fought third consecutive Durham National win at Sedgefield. His jumping wasn’t brilliant at his second visit to Aintree where he fell for the first time in his career at The Chair when in contention in third place. He still retained plenty of ability in 1980/1 where his rating only fell to 135. His form figures were 300431000P. His sole win was a sound victory at Doncaster. He attempted Aintree again but was a remote seventh and was not a runner at Sedgefield for their annual feature. By 1981/2 the thirteen year old was understandably on the downward side of the curve although a final rating of 113 is hardly a selling plater classification. The form figures for the year read 00302230 and best runs included running up as a qualified Hunter Chaser at Kelso and Sedgefield. After an absence in the previous year’s renewal of the Durham National, Rubstic returned for another shot at. However he was soon outpaced. His final run of the year was as a distant last in a moderate Ayr handicap. However he retired from racing at the end of the season with a great curriculum vitae as a first rate long distance handicap chaser with a grand national to his name, a track record at Haydock and a record around Sedgefield which few will ever get near emulating.
Racing
Race 1 was a 2m4 novice hurdle class 4 and was a qualifier for a conditional jockeys’ series. It was quite eventful and resulted in a stewards regarding the riding of runner up Badgers Retreat. The race was won in very comfortable style by the hot 4/5 favourite Bound For Glory who is developing into a fairly useful recruit. Had some good form between the flags and a promising runner position on his debut. Fiddled the last a bit but looks one to keep on-side I would say and could well stay further than this trip with stamina being his forte. The second Badgers Retreat continues to improve but was comprehensively beaten so on this occasion I would not have him as a positive just yet but is capable of winning a minor novice event. There was precious little else to debate other than the mare Rosewin is clearly an unlucky sort and was showing much improved form with a chance 3 out when was badly hampered. I think she has the ability to win, has a strong record of running well and winning on the flat at Catterick so a return to that course over timber should be noted and I have her down as a positive. Note the following result of the stewards into the running of this race. ‘The Stewards held an enquiry under Rule (B)11.6 into possible interference after the third last hurdle. Having heard their evidence and viewed recordings of the race they found that BADGERS RETREAT, placed second, ridden by Robert Mccarth, had interfered with ROSEWIN (IRE), unplaced, ridden by Harry Haynes, and that the interference had not improved BADGERS RETREAT’s placing. They ordered the placings to remain unaltered. The Stewards found Mccarth in breach of Rule (B)54.1 and guilty of careless riding in that he allowed his mount to drift left towards the rail causing ROSEWIN (IRE) to unseat its rider. They suspended him for 7 days as follows: Tuesday 6 to Monday 12 December 2011 inclusive.’
Race 2 was a beginners chase at class 5 over 2m4. It was won in battling style by the odds on favourite Tristan Times. He was held up and produced smoothly from between 3 and 4 out and looked to have the race in his pocket when hit two out causing rider to lose irons. Back on an even keel took issue again on run in to run out the three parts of a length victor. In general this was a pretty good performance but then based on his OR he was 23 pounds in hand of the runner up so I would say looks badly treated if handicapping and will find the penalty hard to shoulder if taking on novices again. One to avoid I would say on the basis of that analysis. However the runner up off 107 Dodgey Dream ran a sound race jumped well for a beginner in the main and tried to make all. This was a step up and if the assessor does not take the OR of the winner at face value and assesses Dodgey Dream accordingly then I think he is on a sound mark to move into handicapping. Saw out this trip well and is a positive. I saw him tailed off behind two very useful recruits at Hexham a couple of weeks ago and I would say a stiff course and soft ground are not what he needs. Of the others Puyol made a few blunders, Front of House was edgy beforehand and didn’t look too fluent, Kings Council kept travelling on and off the bridle suggesting that this undulating track didn’t really suit and the Ferdy Murphy trained Ouest Eclair never jumper. It was reported by jockey Graham Lee, the rider of OUEST ÉCLAIR (FR), unplaced, that the gelding was unsuited by the good to soft ground. In my opinion he just never really seemed to enjoy jumping being quite deliberate at times so it was ability rather than going that undid him today. The race was subject to an enquiry where the findings were: ‘The Stewards held an enquiry under Rule (B)11.6 into possible interference on the run in. Having heard their evidence and viewed recordings of the race they found that the winner, TRUSTAN TIMES (IRE), ridden by Richie McGrath, had interfered with DODGEY DREAM, placed second, ridden by Dougie Costello. They found the interference was accidental and had not improved TRUSTAN TIMES (IRE)’s placing. They ordered the placings to remain unaltered. ‘
The runners being led in at the start with winner (No7 in red and black) Trustan Time ready to settle in held up
Race 3 was a class 4 qualifier for the John Wade hurdle series for juveniles. It was won by the very hot 1/2 favourite Countrywide Flame in emphatic style. Has already picked up two similar events and ran a storming effort in a listed race when second. Well up to taking on listed again and is clearly one of the best youngsters seen to date. The rest were in the main completely outclassed however one to take serious note of was the runner up Eagle Rock. He had the winner off the bridle which on face of it and the 135 rating was not expected before the race. Attracted some significant support in the market beforehand (so I suppose it is safe to assume had shown something in schooling), was up against a very experienced juvenile and ran with much promise hurdling with some fluency. Had done well on the level including a Ripon maiden win and a good fifth in a competitive handicap at Doncaster with a good level of consistency in all five races looking a genuine sort. As such I have him as a big positive having more than enough ability to pick up hurdles this season.
Debutant Eagle Rock was a positive when finishing second today
Race 4 was a class 5 handicap chase over just a bit further than the two miles. It was won by the Sue Smith trained Tipsy Indian and Harvey himself strutted up the presentation stand to lustily seize the prize of a batch of the sponsor’s ale. The winner had looked well in the paddock beforehand, was prominent or led throughout and when tackled over the last and on the run in battled on well. I think the runner up Royal Mile was the better jumper ( hence I have as a positive)but just got caught again having looked the more likely to win over the final fence. But it was a really good race and the pair were clear emphasising the case. Of the others the multiple course and distance winner Authentic Act ran as well as could be expected to be a sound fourth and the third home Otto Quercus ran a better race than the bare form suggests as having been held up made an error 4 out when beginning to make significant progress, had the stuffing knocked out of him momentarily but got going again to be eyecatchingly strong on the run in. The 95 he sits on now is down from the hurdling entry point of 115. He ran on well to beat a good horse in his win in France and that one (Bambi De Rheu) went on to win a conditions event on the flat, a conditions event over the sticks, finished fourth in the French champion hurdle and finish fifth in the Grand Steeple Chase. I would say now that Otto Quercus has got his eye in and is off such a low mark he will pick up a chase. He can win over a stiffer track I think rather than a longer trip and is marked down as a positive. Notes on the remainder are Ice Image looked like he needed the run, Braddock Island looked burly beforehand and exited right towards the burger van on the run in, Lerida was a bit backward in condition, Melange made errors throughout, Frith lacked fluency and Norminster was soon uder pressure and dropped out of it tamely.
Over an early fence with the two eyecatchers Royal Mile (yellow) and Otto Quercus (maroon) leaping over together.
Race 5 was another class 5 chase this time over the ‘marathon’ trip of 3m3. An entertaining race developed into a battle between Frontier Boy (a positive by the blog from Kelso earlier in the month and a nice 6/1 for us today however has gone up nearly a stone on the basis of this effort and will not go down as one to continue to follow) and Riskier at the second last with the former asserting and going on to win by a comprehensive eleven lengths with the runner up weakening a bit on the run in when his chance had gone and the winner quite rightly being driven out fully. However the eyecatcher here was the third home Mansonen L’as who looked as though he would need the run today and despite making one error around halfway stayed on well. Is on a handy mark at the moment of 79. I saw him run pulled up in similar event at Hexham and he had previously run his best race over CD in January when second. Still a novice he looks one to do well in a novice handicap chase at extreme distances. One paced but stays forever and marks as a speculative positive. Of the rest Finbin looked in need of the run and was amongst a host who were pulled up, Foxes Delight was soon hoisting the white flag and the tetchy Hathamore jumped slowly and ran in snatches looks one to avoid. Three were reported as having run badly and the stewards reported as such; ‘The representative of Jennie Candlish, the trainer of OLD STYLE (IRE), which was pulled up, reported that the gelding had a breathing problem. Jane Walton, the trainer of FOXES DELIGHT (IRE), which was pulled up, reported that the gelding had a breathing problem. The representative of Sue Smith, the trainer of CLOUDY DAWN, which was pulled up, reported that the gelding was unsuited by the good to soft ground.’ Of these perhaps the most terse comment I heard someone utter when this was made know was that ‘ The breathing problem for Foxes Delight is that he is still doing it’. Plus from my vantage in the paddock I concluded that perhaps if Ms Walton’s team hadn’t chucked a load of kids sparkle dust all over the poor creature in what must have been some kind of star constellation thing back in Staffordshire he might have looked a little more like a serious racehorse rather than some show pony for exhibiting at a particularly precious country show.
Riskier leads with a circuit to go from Lindseyfield Lodge who weakened
Race 6 was a class 5 handicap over about the two miles. There was a serious punt on the winner Funky Munky who looked in grave danger of having the spoils knicked off him through a particularly enterprising ride by Robert Walford who rode a well timed race in second on Short Supply. The main focus though was on the start and the shenanigans of two runners. The Stewards held an enquiry into the start of Race 6. ‘Having viewed a video recording of the start and having heard evidence from Keith Mercer, the rider of SYDNEY COVE (IRE), unplaced, Miss E C Sayer, the rider of ENDEAVOR, unplaced, and the Starter, they forwarded a report to the British Horseracing Authority.’It looked like either the two wanted to ride exaggerated waiting tactics or that the starter did not give them enough time to get organised. Or that Endeavor’s antics took the starters eye of the position of Sydney Cove who was thus disadvantaged. It will be interesting to see what results. Sydney Cove finished fifth without ever having any chance but he has won with similar tactics including last run and it could be that the race was not run to suit such methods. On the other hand Endeavor never got into the race at all. Has proven to be a right handful at the start on many occasions including when winning and has been left behind before now. I assume there will be some issue around the riding but what could Emma Sayer do at least the beast consented to run albeit not at the more favoured tracking leaders position. Plenty of ability but its anyone’s guess whether he will get going in any race quick enough to have an influence on the race outcome.
Notebook
Rosewin (P)
Entered at Catterick on 13/12 so watch out
Tristan Times (N)
Dodgey Dream (P)
Eagle Rock (P) down £10
2
Great run in top notch juvenile at Donacaster when 12/1 behind another of my one to follow Royal Bonsai at 16/1, Nice each way but guess what no forecast. Clearly capable of winning a juvenile soon as hurdling is very good for one so inexperienced
Otto Quercus (P)
runs at catterick on 13/12
Royal Mile (P)
P
Did nt seem to stay 20f next run and made a couple of mistakes
Mansonnen L’as (P) down £10
0
Not backed when racing over 20f next run. made errors but showed some pace. Better over the extreme distances and is no mug retains positive vore