Sedgefield Tips: Menzies’ Masterpiece set for winning start

Alongside the major jumps action from Aintree on Thursday there are cards from Plumpton and Sedgefield to supplement the Merseyside showpiece.

They race at Sedgefield from 14:07 through until 17:02, a six-race offering, and below are our three best bets on the card.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

14:07 Sedgefield – Masterpiece @ 6/4

The Rebecca Menzies-trained MASTERPIECE still looked a work in progress when he finished third in a bumper at this course in September in what was only his second start under Rules.

It was an improvement on his Doncaster debut last spring and he duly took another step up when scoring at Newcastle (2m1f, good) on the final day of October.

Both that race and the one he contested at Sedgefield previously are solid in terms of form and he can be expected to make his mark sooner rather than later now sent over hurdles.

Nathan Wells is experienced but starting to look exposed over timber despite placing second at Hexham on stable bow last month. Masterpiece may leave him settling for minor honours again.

15:52 Sedgefield – Ann D'arabie @ 11/8

Old Page has a stellar Sedgefield record with form figures of 2312421 at this venue and he arrives off the back of the latest of those wins last month.

He showed a willing attitude under pressure to get the job done and should once more give his running.

He is, however, going to give a chunk of weight to ANN D'ARABIE for the Jonjo & AJ O'Neill yard.

The six-year-old didn't show a lot over hurdles in five runs but she immediately improved on that when she was second in last month's chasing bow at Doncaster (3m2f, good) behind Loud And Proud.

The front-running winner wasn't for catching but Ann D'arabie stuck to her guns and was some 14-lengths clear of the rest when passing the line in second.

This is a weak race by any standards and Benjamin Macey's partner should prove up to opening her account.

17:02 Sedgefield – Milajess @ 11/4

The finale is a handicap hurdle over just shy of two-miles-and-one-furlong and it’s likely that the James Owen-trained Tara Iti will head the betting.

The Sixties Icon gelding was very consistent for the Gary Moore team and scored at Huntingdon on hurdles bow for this handler last month, before running a credible third over the same C&D under a penalty seven days on.

He comes back down in trip now and is taken on with MILAJESS, a likeable mare from the Micky Hammond team.

She is a long-standing maiden over timber but has been second in her last three starts at this track, Musselburgh and Carlisle since the early spring.

Her claiming rider Joshua Thompson stays on board for this run and their turn is surely coming soon in this sort of grade.

Horse Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.