Yorkshire Christmas Family Fun Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 5m 9.2s

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Selected odds by:

Get On The Yager²⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| CWS

11/4

Won last year's Rowland Meyrick on this card (3m, soft), when 7lb lower and matched that effort when dropped back to 2m4½f at Southwell next time. Held over marathon trips twice since and returns from wind surgery dropped 1lb. Bit to prove.

Form: 61129P-

Pain Au Chocolat³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Menzies| OR: 136WS

14/1

1lb higher than when scoring by a wide margin in a similar race at Newcastle (2m4f, heavy) in April. Has had wind surgery after two below par runs. Has to prove he is better for that, and would be interesting of supported.

Form: 2512-06

Willie Boy^p1³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: R T Dunne| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 136

11/4

Won over 2m4f at both Uttoxeter (soft) and Newbury last year, when with Venetia Williams. 4lb higher than the latter here and ran well from this mark over C&D in October, when 3L second. Still going well enough when falling last time. Not ruled out.

Form: 1/16F-2F

Special Catch²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 130| D

9/1

Without a win for almost two years, but has run well in several defeats, including here last time over what is arguably now an inadequate trip. Looking well treated and back at this trip, he could go very close.

Form: 2/62PP-2

Caraline^p,t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 128| CD

8/1

Beat Special Catch 9L in this race last year (soft), but is now 22lb worse off with that rival. Pulled up on heavy at Carlisle on her reappearance and likely to need a career best.

Form: 32321-P

Oak Vintage²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 127| D

9/1

Reappeared in October with a wide margin win over a similar trip at Sedgefield, when 8lb lower. Well held twice here since (1m7f), so more needed on debut for a stable that is doing well at this venue.

Form: 1-16144

Vendor⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 123| C| D

3/1

Soft ground hurdles winner (2m) here in 2015. Decent effort at Haydock on Saturday when beaten just over 7L (1m7½f, heavy) from this mark. Worth another try over this far, but more needed.

Form: 062/654

Forecasts

Willie Boy (11/4), Get On The Yager (11/4), Vendor (3/1), Caraline (8/1), Oak Vintage (9/1), Special Catch (9/1), Pain Au Chocolat (14/1)

An interesting race for a decent prize and SPECIAL CATCH could come good again, now back up to this trip and from what looks an attractive mark on form of not so long ago. Willie Boy could be a big danger, with Pain Au Chocolat of interest if supported. Get On The Yager can't be ruled out, along with last year's winner Caraline, but both have a bit to prove. Oak Vintage is not written off either.