Bang lands Sedgefield hat-trick
Bang And Blame is rapidly becoming a Sedgefield specialist after he recorded his third course and distance success in the Ramside Event Catering Handicap Chase.
Mick Easterby’s charge opened his account at the 15th attempt in November when he trotted up at the County Durham track.
He fell at Market Rasen next time but was back in the winning groove at Sedgefield on Boxing Day when he made all the running to score by 23 lengths.
And he repeated the feat back at his favourite course on Tuesday when he romped home 20-lengths clear of Weapons Inspector.
“That was a bit of a shock,” said owner Edward Wilkin. “I was pleasantly surprised to see him win like that to say the least.
“I did think he’d get beaten after being put up over a stone for winning last time.
“I think he wins by just outpacing them early on and they seem to find it hard work just to stay with him.”
Il Maurice is progressing fast and she followed up her Newcastle win with an impressive 11-length triumph in the GG Odds Mares’ Only Novices’ Hurdle.
“She’s right tough and they didn’t go fast enough for her but she arrived at the second last really going,” said trainer Ferdy Murphy. “It was the same at Newcastle she was getting pushed along down the back and then all of a sudden she goes.
“She wants three miles really and we’ll have to look at handicaps at some stage because she can’t keep on carrying penalties.”
Joe Brown gained a deserved success in the John Smith’s Extra Smooth Handicap Hurdle.
Heather Dalton’s gelding had run with credit on his four starts to date, most notably last time when he finished runner-up on his handicap debut at Wetherby.
But he went one better under an enterprising ride from Jim Crowley.
“He’s a grand little horse and he was very unlucky at Wetherby last time when he was just caught,” said Crowley.
“The ground was like glue and he got stuck in a patch just after the last but he battled quite well.”
Silver Sedge was backed from 11-2 into 4-1 to open his account over fences in the gg.com Novices’ Chase and Ann Hamilton’s grey landed the money in style.
“He over-jumped at the first on his chasing debut at Hexham. He’s always jumped well at home but he was just too bold that day,” explained the trainer’s husband Ian.
Munaawesh looked the winner of the John Wade For Equine Fibre And Rubber Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle, but after being seven-lengths clear at the last was collared up the hill by Star Trooper.
Conditional Charlie Poste rode his first winner over fences when he brought the Milton Harris-trained Cyborsun home 12-lengths clear in the gg.com Handicap Chase.
