Sedgefield Racecourse

11th March 2025

After a pair of none-too-shabby wins at Plumpton and Huntingdon recently, normal service was resumed at Sedgefield, as my £50 play-money for the day was, without any apparent drama, effortlessly hoovered up by a combination of the Tote ladies and the on-site bookmakers.

I did pick one winner - Bond Broker by Freddie Gingell - in the Second Race.  But this had been part of a double; one which crashed when Henry Brooke on Love True casually trotted in fourth.  Betting is full of "I shoulda's", I know.  But I really shoulda have stuck with Freddie G, who won this one on Super Saint.

The most entertaining race of the day, or at least I felt so, was the Third Race.  This one had just six runners, and jockey Lilly Pinchen (or, more likely, trainer Jennie Candlish) had clearly decided beforehand that Delpotro's best chance of a win was to go for it right from the start.  Which they did.  Delpotro at one point led the race by six lengths, but was incrementally hunted down by favourite Fearless Action.  My choice in this one, Zara'a Universe, had been well in contention throughout, but was pulled up by jockey Joe Williamson after it clattered the second from last fence.

I only lost a tenner in this race, but from a defeated bookie slip I saw lying in a puddle, some fellow racegoer had bet £40 on Delpotro.  And, even more crushingly, £100 on an unsuccessful favourite in one of the Cheltenham Festival races which were being shown on the big screen today.

Which made me (thankfully) realise just how much of a lightweight I really am at this betting business.

Sedgefield Racecourse car park.

As it sez...

This lady went home with a fistful of my hard-earned in her pocket.

So, here we have the stripey-capped Luke Scott winning on Demoiselle Kap,
with my tenner on Inferno Sacree about to find it's way into the pocket of
Miss BK Racing.

 

Action from the Second Race, with Bond Broker out in front.

My one winner of the day: Freddie Gingell on Bond Broker.

Freddie looking pensive...

...and a man in a bunnet looking very smug. 

Third Race, and Delpotro is way out in front, first time around the course...

...but it is Fearless Action who crosses the line first.

Thankfully not mine.

Lilly Pinchin

 

The serious punters found their way to the William Hill shed, betting on the greyhounds
 between the horse races.

This is the lads getting ready to begin the Fourth Race.

   

Ladronne winning the Fifth Race.  I had gone for a Tote exacta here, predicting Cave Article to win with Prince Cleni to finish second.  They finished third and fourth IN A FOUR-HORSE RACE !!  It was clearly time for...