Sedgefield – Tuesday 19th April

It just was not to be on the last day of the Irish National meeting from Fairyhouse, as the four selections failed to get the job done when it counted most. Max Flamingo is certainly a horse I will be keeping on the right side of next season, when he encounters more of those types of races. It recorded a poor day which was a shame, as the previous two days had been solid. It leaves April as being another month of inconsistency thus far, and although we are fighting hard – we could always do with a few more winners. 

The big action for today comes from Sedgefield and low and behold, my father will be at the racing today from the Northern track, so hopefully his omens can send me a bit of good luck on this occasion. I only have the two selections in what is a relatively ordinary day of racing around Britain. 

The first of which comes in the 1.40 race, which is a 2m1f handicap chase and has brought together a field of 7 to post. It is a field where you could make a case for plenty of them and the open nature of the betting market would indicate as much in that sense. Armattiekan is your favorite on this occasion, for the McCain team who have had a wonderful year this season, and he has been one of their consistent flag bearers. However, he seems short enough for what he is going into this race and he was soundly beaten last time out at Carlisle, so I can just about sway away from him. 

However, I can not get away from the Brian Hughes ridden Costly Diamond, who, if putting behind last week’s faux pas at Bangor, should be very hard to beat on this occasion. He loves this course and distance, where he has recorded a record of 3 wins from 4 starts, and he has been shaping like a return to the winners enclosure is more and more likely. He was well backed at Bangor last time out, when jinking and unseating on the way into a fence down the back, which was unlike him. I hope that is not a trend of any sort and returning to the track he loves, he will be on his best behavior. At a price of 11/4 with Paddy Power, I think he is a very fair bet at those prices.

The second selection for the day comes in the 2.45 race, which is the 2m3f handicap chase on the card and this is another seven runner race and although that is usually a disaster for each way players, there are a few bookmakers paying out the 3 places for this race. This is where I am planning my way into the race, with the ultra consistent and course regular, Road Warrior. In his last six starts around Sedgefield, he was won three times, came 2nd twice and 3rd once. He loves the configurations of the track and although having to put up with the fact he pulled up last time out around Carlisle, I would not look massively into that. This track plays to his strengths and he has already proved that he can operate off the mark he is on today and regular rider from last year, Kane Yeoman is back on board today and taking a valuable seven pounds off his back. At a price of 11/2 with Ladbrokes, who are paying 3 places in this race – he looks a strong each way bet.