13:50 Catterick

Thursday 12 January 2017

All12:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:50

W.l. And Hector Christie Memorial Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 3m 54.7s

Fair Loch⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 128

15/2

Back from a break when winning a small field handicap chase at Ayr in October when jumping and travelling well. Paid for giving the winner a race last time out when eventually finishing fourth (of four) to the useful Mixboy at Musselburgh. Not the most reliable though and can finish weakly.

Form: 9/14342-

Indian Voyage^t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Daragh Bourke⁽⁵⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 125

10/1

Losing run starting to stack up now and form away from his favourite track (Wetherby) often leaves plenty to be desired. Well beaten last time out at Haydock and more needed here, although the drop in class may well help.

Form: 665432

A Little Magic^h³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: N D Fehily| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 121

11/4

Useful form over hurdles last season but has taken a while to get the hang of things over fences. Came good on his third try over the larger obstacles (appeared suited by front-running tactics) at Huntingdon off a falling handicap mark. Up 6lb for that win but should be capable of improving again over fences.

Form: U91131-

Domtaline¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Ryan Winks⁽⁷⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 118

5/1

Scored a welcome win in what looked to be a weak race at Stratford in October. Been well held since over a variety of trips although always looks best at a 2m and possibly found the trip too far at Leicester last time.

Form: 32545-1

Nine Altars⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: B S Hughes| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 115

5/2

Just the two starts over fences so far and not quite as good as he was over hurdles so far. Below form in that sphere at Sedgefield last time (might still have needed the run) but does have to step forward here.

Form: 624323-

Roxyfet¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Finian O'Toole⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 111

33/1

In good form last year (won four times) but hasn't really fired this year. Still 4lb above his last winning mark and probably needs a little help from the handicapper yet to figure here.

Form: 323260-

Swaledale Lad^p¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Challoner| T: R Ford| OR: 104

7/1

Formerly a decent handicap chaser and on the downgrade these days although he arrested the decline when winning a selling hurdle last time at Market Rasen. Back over fences here and off a lowly mark - questionable if he has the ability still to take advantage of it.

Form: 339258

Non-Runners

Captain Hox³⁵

Weight: 11-3| Age: 8

T: P Griffin J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Nine Altars (5/2), A Little Magic (11/4), Captain Hox (9/2), Domtaline (5/1), Swaledale Lad (7/1), Fair Loch (15/2), Indian Voyage (10/1), Roxyfet (33/1)

This should be run at a good pace with both A LITTLE MAGIC and Fair Loch likely to go on here at a course that suits front runners. The former has taken a little time to find his feet over fences but did show improvement when winning at Huntingdon last time out. Fair Loch paid the price for getting involved in a head-to-head on his last outing with a useful sort, and with a more conservative and less aggressive ride he could play a part here. The drop in class may well help Indian Voyage although he would have more chance if this was at his beloved Wetherby and Domtaline will enjoy being back over 2m after running over trips that have been too far. 1. A Little Magic 2. Indian Voyage 3. Fair Loch