15:20 Catterick

Tuesday 1 January 2019

All12:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

Racing Again 10th January Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 6m 16.7s

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Selected odds by:

Nemean Lion^p,t⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Teal⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 102| BF| CD

4/5

Trainer can do little wrong at the moment and this one scored in impressive style under today's rider over C&D recently and avoids a penalty (runs off same mark). Very dangerous if gifted an easy lead again and every chance that will happen.

Form: 551471

Samtu^p⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Ross Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 101

11/2

Chased home Nemean Lion last time over C&D (has 4L to make up at the same weights) and ran one of his better races without his usual tongue-tie. Has work to do to reverse the latest form, flattered to get so close but has a place chance again.

Form: 72F352

Inchcolm⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: T Davidson| OR: 100

7/1

Has been plying his trade successfully over fences firing in a hat-trick since moving to this stable before unseating his rider last time when hampered. Interesting move to bring him back to hurdles; never run in a handicap in this sphere.

Form: 24111U

Midnight Queen^v²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 87

8/1

Made all to win a weak handicap hurdle last time out but produced her best effort in doing so in a first-time visor. Suited by controlling the pace on that occasion but won't have things as easy this time around with Nemean Lion in the field.

Form: 1F1F41

Turtle Cask^p¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: R D Day| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 87| CD

25/1

Ran better than for some while last time out at Hexham over a staying trip on deep ground and has run well in the past around here (C&D winner). Given a 6lb rise for that effort which appears a little harsh but still below last winning mark.

Form: 5-0P892

Court Baloo^v²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: A C Whillans| OR: 86| BF

20/1

His record is rather uneven and that was proven last time when he disappointed over fences (well backed late on) failing to back up a decent hurdles run. Stays this trip but can run in snatches and needs help from the handicapper.

Form: 2P7525

Love At Dawn¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: P D Niven| OR: 83

25/1

Modest form over hurdles in the main and has yet to win in this sphere and has looked well below any sort of form of late. First-time blinkers did little to bring about any improvement last time and hard to recommend here.

Form: 652-9P8

It's All About Me⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 82

10/1

Displayed some decent form in bumpers (twice 3rd around here) but has shown very little over hurdles so far. 6th at Hexham last time was a small step forward (kept wide) and capable 10lb claimer takes the ride.

Form: 0-77006

Arboretum^t¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Joe Colliver| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 80

66/1

The pair of handicap hurdles he landed in the middle of 2017 remain by far his best form. Little to show for his efforts of late but all his best efforts have come on good ground and this surface/trip should prove to testing to get involved.

Form: 33-P76P

Forecasts

Nemean Lion (4/5), Samtu (11/2), Inchcolm (7/1), Midnight Queen (8/1), It's All About Me (10/1), Court Baloo (20/1), Turtle Cask (25/1), Love At Dawn (25/1), Arboretum (66/1)

Recent C&D winner NEMEAN LION looks to have a fine chance of a rapid Xmas/New Year double having led all the way when scoring from Samtu last time with the winner idling after the last and the weights the same a reversal of that form looks unlikely. Inchcolm has been in rude health over fences looking an improved model since going to Tristan Davidson stable and he’s an interesting contender back in this sphere after his recent unseat (not his fault) over fences at Wetherby. Midnight Queen is the potential pace spoiler to Nemean Lion here but she has on occasions suggested she’s not the most straightforward and the Kirby stable is in excellent form.