13:40 Catterick

Thursday 28 December 2023

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:23

Enter ITV7 For Free Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:42 | Winning time: 4m 12.95s

Blue Bear⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 92

10/3

Offered more over hurdles at Kelso in October but couldn't build on that on handicap bow at Market Rasen since and chase debut over 19.2f here was hardly brimming with promise.

Form: P-P8560

Guillaume^t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 90

2/1

Ran right up to form when forth on last month's return to action at Doncaster. Tongue tied and disappointing at Sedgefield but isn't one to be writing off yet. Drop back in trip is a slight worry, though.

Form: F943-44

Dakota Moirette^p³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: J Kington| T: A Crook| OR: 88| D

18/1

Regressive form for current yard but tumbled in the weights if he can revive back over fences.

Form: U064-70

Claret Dabbler^p⁶⁷⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: H Graham & G Rutherford| OR: 85

9/1

Stepped up on initial efforts over fences when placed twice here in December 2021. Well held at Musselburgh the following February and off since.

Form: 457324/

Nancy Till³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: M Young| OR: 75

20/1

Promising in Irish points but yet to get anywhere near replicating that over hurdles. Hopes pinned on switch to the larger obstacles.

Form: 5U6-0PP

Coeur Aimant^p⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 72

4/1

Off 12 months/had breathing op before posting good second in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter on return in July. However, made a rather underwhelming start over fences.

Form: 02-244P

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 15p in the pound

Non-Runners

Saint Jaguen⁵²

Weight: 12-0| Age: 5

T: F O'Brien J: Liam Harrison

Crews Pitch⁴⁹

Weight: 11-13| Age: 7

T: L Morgan J: Lewis Dobb

Berliet Express³⁷

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: J Coulson J: Non Runner

Halfway House Lad³⁴

Weight: 10-2| Age: 4

T: M A Barnes J: Conor Rabbitt

Forecasts

Guillaume (2/1), Saint Jaguen (11/4), Blue Bear (10/3), Coeur Aimant (4/1), Crews Pitch (5/1), Halfway House Lad (11/2), Claret Dabbler (9/1), Berliet Express (12/1), Dakota Moirette (18/1), Nancy Till (20/1)

Hard to be confident about any of these but the switch to fences and a handicap may see SAINT JAGUEN in a much better light for his successful yard. Guillaume ideally needs a stiffer test of stamina than this but he should be keeping on, with Crews Pitch another to consider.

Previous Winners

2022

Arthur's Quay

Weight: 12-2 |Age: 8

J: R P McLernon | T: B Haslam

15/2

Prize Money

1st: £3,697.002nd: £1,701.003rd: £850.004th: £426.005th: £212.00