14:50 Catterick

Thursday 12 January 2017

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

North Yorkshire Grand National Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 7m 48.20s

Federici⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 134

22/1

Winner of the Ulster National at Downpatrick in March so can handle a stamina test. That win came off a mark of 125 so on his second for this yard he does look a little high here.

Form: 56P306

Ballyculla^p¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: L P Aspell| T: W Greatrex| OR: 132

9/1

Back on what should be a winning mark but looks to need softer ground and needs to bounce back from a lacklustre run here.

Form: 51F1P-5

Straidnahanna³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 132

11/2

Appears to like Catterick (2/2 here) and will appreciate a good stamina test (would like some rain) and dropped in the weights after a seemingly disappointing run last time out. His jumping can be a little hit-and-miss but around his favourite track he's sure to have a good chance, especially with the yard in good form.

Form: P-481P0

Carrigdhoun^p,t²⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Daragh Bourke⁽⁵⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 132

33/1

Looks harshly handicapped off this mark and needs to bounce back from a poor run at Haydock last time out.

Form: 12P516-

Gonalston Cloud^p¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: N Kent| OR: 130

9/1

A thorough and dour stayer who found his form last time at Market Rasen and is 2/2 at Catterick. Up 5lb here and had a very hard race at Market Rasen. If he's over that then he'll be one to throw into the mix given his course form.

Form: 1112-P5

Ballyben³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: J M Jefferson| OR: 127

6/1

Very consistent but now on a career high mark and may find one or two a little better treated here. Not run at the track before but no reason that it shouldn't suit and another with a chance on his latest run.

Form: 512207-

Harry The Viking^p³⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 127

17/2

Finally returned to the winner's enclosure last time out after a five year break, and a 7lb rise looks fair enough for what was a convincing win. Likes to go from the front but may face some pace pressure here.

Form: 721744

Raktiman^t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 125

14/1

The yard have had some good success of late but this trip looks a step too far and he'll be lucky to see it out..

Form: 3173-84

Alto Des Mottes^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Tony Kelly| T: H Hogarth| OR: 125

16/1

Ran second in this race last year (caught close home) and yard have been in good form. The race looks a stronger one this year though and on this quicker surface he could struggle to follow-up.

Form: 3/P61FP-

Newton Thistle^t³²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling| OR: 120

40/1

At his best around Towcester (won four times there) and while he will enjoy this test of stamina the course could well be a little quick for him.

Form: F1P2P-P

Jac The Legend^v1³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 119

9/1

Fell in this race last year and found Doncaster beyond him last time out. Starting to look a difficult ride and others preferred here.

Form: 035810-

Itstimeforapint^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 118

14/1

Stamina test will suit and stays all day but should really have seen his race out better last time and is 10lb higher than his last win.

Form: 8P16-53

Fill The Power^p¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 117

12/1

Starting to look on the downgrade and can look lazy and temperamental and a little hard to catch right. Stable are in good form but they have a better candidate here.

Form: 2/1-0664

Scotswell¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Thomas Dowson⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs H O Graham| OR: 116

17/2

Won this two years ago and always dangerous if he is allowed to dictate matters from the front. Given a ride that was too aggressive last time out and with the course and ground in his favour he would be dangerous to write off here.

Form: 2F5381-

Non-Runners

Doing Fine⁴⁰

Weight: 11-8| Age: 9

T: N P Mulholland J: N D Fehily

Forecasts

Doing Fine (4/1), Straidnahanna (11/2), Ballyben (6/1), Harry The Viking (17/2), Scotswell (17/2), Gonalston Cloud (9/1), Jac The Legend (9/1), Ballyculla (9/1), Fill The Power (12/1), Itstimeforapint (14/1), Raktiman (14/1), Alto Des Mottes (16/1), Federici (22/1), Carrigdhoun (33/1), Newton Thistle (40/1)

A competitive renewal of this stamina-sapping handicap chase with Doing Fine heading the market after his fine run at Sandown last time. He's of interest off a 4lb higher mark although there are question marks as to whether the course will suit. Ballyben is another consistent sort although his mark is now at an all-time high and there may well be one or two better handicapped here. Both Scotswell and Alto Des Mottes have previous form in this race and the former would be a dangerous individual if he got an easy lead here. With Harry The Viking in opposition there may well be some pace pressure on here as he also likes to go from the front and he’ll be another to enjoy this trip. Both Gonalston Cloud and STRAIDNAHANNA have claims (both are 2/2 at the trip) although the former had a tough race last time out. The latter makes more appeal from an in-form yard and he could well bounce back from a disappointing run last time with a test like this, on a course he enjoys. 1. Straidnahanna 2. Doing Fine 3. Harry The Viking