14:20 Catterick

Thursday 12 January 2017

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

Watch On 3 Devices Racinguk.com/anywhere Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 3m 48.10s

High Bridge²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Alex Ferguson⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling

1/3

Smart in bumpers when with John Ferguson (sixth in the Festival bumper last season) and finished second in a Flat maiden in the summer. Made a taking debut over hurdles at Newbury in December jumping well, travelling strongly and winning comfortably. Should be up to defying a penalty and moving on to better things.

Form: 116-111

Top Tug³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 130

5/2

Showed some useful form on the Flat and made a winning debut over hurdles in November. Made favourite to follow-up at Huntingdon in December but failed to concede a 7lb penalty to two useful types. Remains with potential although he may well be better on a more galloping track.

Form: 1

As And When³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam

66/1

Second in a small-field bumper on debut at Wincanton (beaten favourite) and given a considerate introduction over hurdles on debut at same track. Left Paul Nicholls in the meantime and makes his debut for a new stable and should do better in the future.

Form: 20

Bocasien Desbois¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Todhunter

150/1

Took a while to win in Irish points and well beaten in two attempts over hurdles so far both at Catterick.

Form: FP-5P18

Culmination³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: James Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr

16/1

French Flat winner over an extended 1m4f in March 2016 beating two rivals. Makes his hurdles debut here for a yard who do well with this type and interesting to see what he can do here.

Form: 44

Docali⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Adrian Lane| T: H Burns

150/1

Seven starts on the Flat failed to yield even a place and it's been the same story over hurdles where he's been beaten on all three occasions.

Form: U869-

Framley Garth⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J Kington⁽³⁾| T: P Holmes

150/1

Three time winner on the Flat with the last win coming over an extended mile in July at Hamilton. Yet to tackle hurdles and makes his debut here.

Form:

Highland Castle^t⁹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: L Egerton

33/1

Decent stayer on the Flat (won five times) but has come to hurdling rather late in life. Showed very little on hurdles debut at Fakenham when racing well off the pace and hurdling none too fluently.

Form: 6

Minella Suite¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin

25/1

Sole bumper start didn't really promise much but has shown a little more ability in two hurdles runs since. Shaped far better than the distance he was beaten last time out at Kelso when he looked as though the test was too much for him. Would be an interesting one for handicaps once he gains a mark, which may well come after this run.

Form: 2-76

Parisian Charmer³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Tony Kelly| T: M Weatherer

200/1

Poor form in bumpers and over hurdles and one of the less likely types here.

Form: 00P/0

Sigurd²³

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

14/1

Seven race maiden on the Flat and showed much improved form over hurdles on his second start last time. Beaten by three useful types in that Taunton race and if the form can be believed he'll be one to note in a handicap back over further on a more galloping track, he needs this run for a mark.

Form: /04381-

Time Of My Life^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: A Nicol| T: P Holmes

150/1

Three time winner on the Flat but so far has shown very little over hurdles in two attempts.

Form:

Pen Her In^b1,h¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Joe Colliver⁽³⁾| T: Kenneth Slack

125/1

With three non-completions in her last three starts it would be a major surprise if she was to take a hand here.

Form: 6UP

Non-Runners

Man Look²⁹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: D McCain Jnr J: W T Kennedy

Forecasts

High Bridge (1/3), Top Tug (5/2), Sigurd (14/1), Culmination (16/1), Man Look (20/1), Minella Suite (25/1), Highland Castle (33/1), As And When (66/1), Pen Her In (125/1), Framley Garth (150/1), Bocasien Desbois (150/1), Time Of My Life (150/1), Docali (150/1), Parisian Charmer (200/1)

This looks all about the head-to-head between the Champion Bumper sixth HIGH BRIDGE and the smart handicapper from the Flat in Top Tug. The former made a really sound start to his hurdling career when winning easily at Newbury. Top Tug made a good start to his career over hurdles but struggled to progress last time when failing to give away a penalty and his form just doesn’t match that of High Bridge. The race lacks depth and most of the others are likely to end up in handicaps with Sigurd, Culmination and Minella Suite all of interest in that sphere in the future. 1. High Bridge 2. Top Tug 3. Sigurd