The racing in Durham is unsurprisingly low-grade, which in the case of the 15:10 at least helps to reduce the numbers worthy of consideration. Most of the runners are averagely treated, including morning favourite Solway Dornal who is now on a career-high mark by some way. This brings him into the orbit of The Society Man, who has his consistency to thank for a paltry win record. The Society Man recorded his only success to date off 93, though he's gone close off higher than today's mark of 99. He has form from this summer that puts him in the realm of well handicapped now and his morning price arguably doesn't reflect that to the extent it should.
The following handicap hurdle (15:45) at least contains one with potential from a handicapping perspective. This will be just a second run in handicaps for Langley House in a hurdling career that's been chiefly educational so far. It took three runs to get her hurdling up to scratch and a tack problem held her back on her fourth start. Her handicap debut last time was her first run of any sort for a year, though it yielded a marked improvement even if she shaped as though in need of the run. With the benefit of the outing and an easing of her mark to a lowly 84, Langley House needn't improve much to go close in an ordinary contest.
The summer of 2014 was a productive one for Operateur (16:50), who won four times in June. He could be set to make just as big an impact over jumps in the autumn if his win last time is any guide. That run was the culmination of a string of increasingly promising runs, so it'd be rash to put down the most recent step solely to AP McCoy, who guided Operateur to an easy seven-length win. A rise of 9 lb shouldn't stop Operateur even though McCoy is unavailable today (the experienced Andrew Tinkler takes over) and we already know the sort of streak he is capable of going on once he gets rolling.
Timeform UK SmartPlays
All at Sedgefield
Back The Society Man @ 5.39/2 in the 15:10
Back Langley House @ 5.24/1 in the 15:45
Back Operateur @ 4.57/2 in the 16:50
