15:50 Catterick
Wednesday 8 March 2017
All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:20
Hunt Staff Charities Novices' Handicap Chase
- 5YO plus  |  Class 4  |  1m 7f 145y  |  Soft  |  5 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 15:51Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 4m 6.76s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Runner-up in an Irish point-to-point two years ago, finishing between Baden and Kalondra, who are both now rated in the 130s. Acquired by connections for £80,000 and been brought along steadily this season over hurdles, doing best at Wetherby last time when leading two out and being tapped for toe in the closing stages. Looks a nice chaser in the making and only 1lb higher for debut today. Has to prove she handles forecast ground.
Half-brother to a hurdle winner in France, though shown no signs of duplicating that ability in three bumpers and three hurdles, being well beaten every time. Switched to make his chase debut here and from a very workable mark, though hard to make a strong case out for him on his handicap debut.
More experienced and more exposed than a few of these, having won three of his last four starts on all types of ground. Reputed to be a quirky sort and despite his age he looks to be enjoying a progressive spell. Now up 8lb for his latest Sedgefield win, he is going to need to improve again.
Exploited his 9lb lower hurdles mark when winning by a wide margin in first-time cheek pieces at Ayr (2m, heavy) last week. Remains a maiden over fences, though has made the frame 3-5 in this sphere. Ran well from a 3lb higher mark when beating all except the well handicapped Casual Cavalier at Ayr in January and looks set to go well again.
Maiden after 17 starts over jumps, the two most recent being over fences. Ran well on first start for current yard over C&D (soft, cheek pieces) last month. That was from 2lb lower and got tired in very testing ground at Leicester last time. Likes to get on with things.
Forecasts
Sky Full Of Stars (7/4), Minella Suite (11/4), Frankie Ballou (7/2), Bandol (4/1), Paddling (33/1)
Bandol and Sky Full Of Stars both come here in good form and the latter is taken to come out just the better in that argument, though preference is for MINELLA SUITE. Admittedly, shouldering top weight won't be easy in the forecast conditions and he does have to prove that he handles them. However, the penny began to drop with him at Wetherby over hurdles last time and he looks like making a nice chaser, with a mark that looks there to be exploited if he can begin to show the abilities of the two runners who finished either side of him in that Irish point-to-point.
- Minella Suite
- Sky Full Of Stars
- Bandol
Prize Money
1st: £5,198.002nd: £1,526.003rd: £763.004th: £382.00
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