The National Hunt season is now underway and, while there are unlikely to be any superstars on show at Sedgefield, the County Durham track does stage an interesting seven-race card on Wednesday afternoon, Oct 11th.

The first race gets underway at 14:20, which is a two-mile maiden hurdle, while the feature on the card comes at 17:15 and is a handicap chase over 2m1f.

14:55 – Bergentown @ 17/2

This is a weak handicap chase for novices over an extended two miles and three furlongs and, with the contest unlikely to take much winning, fitness could be key to the chances of BERGENTOWN.

Wednesday’s outing is only a second start over fences for the Irish import, who made a winning bow on his first run for the Jennie Candlish yard at Bangor in June.

That was over this trip but over hurdles and, while the six-year-old has disappointed in three subsequent runs, there have been excuses, making it is too soon to write him off.

A lot of his rivals are still maidens under rules and are having their first run back from a layoff.

Off a 2lb lower mark than his Bangor hurdle win, he must make some appeal.

16:05 – Humps And Bumps @ 5/1

Stamina will be the strong suit in the 16:05 handicap chase over 3m3f and, with plenty of forward-going types involved, the race-fit HUMPS AND BUMPS could capitalise.

The 10-year-old veteran has yet to win in seven starts since arriving in Britain from Ireland, but her four chase runs have been filled with plenty of promise.

Humps And Bumps, who is likely to be held up and kept out of any early duel up front, has finished 4334 in those chase runs. The pick of those efforts came when she was a staying on third over 3m3½f at Stratford on her penultimate start in August.

The Danny Brooke-trained mare was beaten only three-and-three-quarter lengths on that occasion and runner-up O’Faolains Lad has since finished second again in a stronger grade.

The harder they go, the better her chance, and she should be staying on when others begin to wilt.

17:15 – Getaway Jewel @ 4/1

Last-time-out winners Restandbethankful and Moore Clouds may attract plenty of support but they are two bold frontrunners and that could tee things up nicely for a closer.

With Rocco Storm perhaps preferring softer conditions and Gandhi Maker coming back off a break and also one that likes to get on with it, GETAWAY JEWEL gets the nod under three-time champion jump jockey Brian Hughes.

The Micky Hammond-trained nine-year-old finished second off this mark at Kelso 29 days ago and this run should suit, with him likely to get the strong gallop he craves.

Hughes knows him well, having won four times and placed on four more occasions from 13 rides aboard, and they could team up with another victory.