14:50 Catterick

Tuesday 19 December 2017

All12:2012:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:20

Buy Your 2018 Annual Badge Today Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:52 | Winning time: 3m 59.20s

Discoverie^b,h¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: Kenneth Slack| OR: 116| CD

14/1

Sedgefield specialist, but he has won twice at this track over fences, including on his penultimate chasing start in this contest in 2016. Effectively races off the same mark with his riders claim factored in, but fairly modest over hurdles lately.

Form: 182-5U4

Halcyon Days^p⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Tony Kelly| T: R Menzies| OR: 114| CD

11/2

A tremendously consistent horse last season, winning six of his ten starts and showing a game attitude to continually defy the handicapper. Sound fencing is his forte and he lost little in defeat at Ayr latest (beaten 1L by Vengeur De Guye).

Form: 31311-2

Thisonetime^b1,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 113| D

8/1

Had plenty of chances since winning on debut at Warwick in January 2016 (bumper). The switch to fences hasn't quite worked the oracle just yet, but blinkers are added now, and this trip possibly suits best.

Form: 24-2434

Trust Thomas¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Jamie Hamilton⁽³⁾| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 112| D

13/2

A hunting career beckoned before an improved effort at Kelso in November (third), and he struck next time at Musselburgh when scoring by a neck (2m good). Up 5lb, but he doesn't always deliver in the heat of the battle (off the bridle).

Form: 43P-P31

Casual Cavalier^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: G Bewley| OR: 112| D

15/2

Three times a winner over fences last year over 2m, including on his debut for this yard. Ran with credit after that and shaped well after a break at Wetherby last time in a better race than this.

Form: 31123-3

Maxed Out King¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 111| D

8/1

Progressive as a novice around this time last year, looking the part when bossing his rivals twice in the space of a week at Sedgefield (2m) and Newcastle (2m4f). High in the weights now but should be stronger for a recent run at Newcastle.

Form: 13-1365

Tomorrow's Legend³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: J Kington⁽³⁾| T: P Holmes| OR: 107| D

11/1

Broke his career duck at Carlisle in March 2016 (2m novices chase, good to soft), but his mark took a hit for that success. Looked in need of his return to action after 19 months off at Kelso last month. Others preferred.

Form: 22612/6

John Williams^p⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 101| D

4/1

A versatile sort who generally goes well at Musselburgh. That said, the hat-trick bid was thwarted by Rancher Lass at Musselburgh yesterday (finished last of four), and it must be highly questionable as to whether he races again so quickly.

Form: 342-P11

Las Tunas²³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: C O'Farrell| T: R M Smith| OR: 100| D

11/1

Took advantage of a reduced mark to win at Ayr in February (2m); beating Casual Cavalier and shaped well in all three subsequent races. Ended the season in April with one of his better efforts when a runner-up at Perth off this mark. Seasonal bow.

Form: 6413P2-

Bollin Line¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Lee Edwards| T: L Egerton| OR: 93| CD

15/2

Notched a November hurdles hat-trick (Sedgefield and Ludlow twice), but hasn't exploited a much lower chasing mark since, and far less proficient in this sphere, so it must be debatable if he will ever do so.

Form: 51114U

Paddling²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 89

20/1

Ran well enough from 3lb out of the handicap at Hexham last month when 13½L fourth to Celtic Flames (2m heavy) on his first start since early March. Remains a maiden, but is lightly raced over fences so deserves more time.

Form: 05P84-4

Forecasts

John Williams (4/1), Halcyon Days (11/2), Trust Thomas (13/2), Bollin Line (15/2), Casual Cavalier (15/2), Maxed Out King (8/1), Thisonetime (8/1), Tomorrow's Legend (11/1), Las Tunas (11/1), Discoverie (14/1), Paddling (20/1)

A good race with a whole host of admirable Northern handicappers in the line up, perhaps none more so than the fluent fencing winning machine HALCYON DAYS. Life is much tougher for him now as he races from a career high mark, but he continues to deliver the goods and posted a solid comeback at Ayr in late October. The suspicion is that his trainer will pick his races with care this term, but he likes this track and is strongest over 2m. Trust Thomas doesn't always deliver in a finish, and is generally an in-running players dream (travels well), and he looks vulnerable up 5lb for his narrow Musselburgh success, whilst 2016 winner Discoverie is none too appealing these days, so the Brian Hughes ridden Casual Cavalier is the forecast play.