Derek Hatton Birthday Celebrations Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:47 | Winning time: 6m 52.5s

Catching On^t¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 120| D

8/1

2015 Devon National winner (3m6½f, heavy) at Exeter , though only success since was over hurdles. Returns to chasing for first time in 12-months from 11lb lower than last time and couldn't rule out with 7lb claimed.

Form: 15-804P

Thedrinkymeister^v⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 120| D

13/2

Both chase wins have been at Wetherby, the more recent over 3m from 6lb lower last February. Has run well here before and also scored on heavy. Fell early on reappearance and has not been rushed back. Couldn't rule out a bit more improvement.

Form: 1/PP14-F

Carlton Ryan²⁸⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Bannister| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 115| BF| D

10/3

Prolific point-to-point and hunter chase winner who stays 3m2f and acts on heavy ground. Consistent and looks capable of having a say from this mark with stable's runners in decent form.

Form: 11/2212-

Sunny Ledgend^p¹³

Age: 13| Weight: 11-5| J: J Martin⁽⁷⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 113| C| D

14/1

Relishes heavy ground and stays 3m, although arguably better over a bit shorter. 2lb higher than when winning at Leicester 11-months ago but showed there is still life in the old legs yet at Uttoxeter last month and could again pick up some money.

Form: 4P1F-P3

Vice Et Vertu^b²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: H D Daly| OR: 112| D

14/1

Three of his five career wins have been on heavy ground, while his two chase successes have been at around this trip. 4lb higher here than when winning at Towcester in May and needs to raise his game a bit after being pulled up on reappearance.

Form: 55P8-1P

Alf 'n' Dor¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 111| BF

4/1

Another mudlark who has bumper and hurdle wins to his name. Is 0-4 over fences so far, but if he could reproduce his Chepstow run (2m7½f, soft) from November from this 3lb lower mark, then he would certainly enter calculations.

Form: 4-43U33

Shanty Town^p¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: G Sheehan| T: David Dennis| OR: 109

2/1

0-10 under rules but has shown promise in his last two chases, finishing second by a neck at Warwick (2m4f, good to soft) and last month at Hereford (2m5f, soft) from today's mark. Cheek pieces retained and has claims if he gets this longer trip.

Form: 435-022

Forecasts

Shanty Town (2/1), Carlton Ryan (10/3), Alf 'n' Dor (4/1), Thedrinkymeister (13/2), Catching On (8/1), Vice Et Vertu (14/1), Sunny Ledgend (14/1)

Not easy to rule any of these out with confidence. Catching On is on the downgrade but this is his easiest test for some time and a revival in fortunes is not ruled out, while the veteran Sunny Ledgend is still displaying enthusiasm and could again pick up some money. Thedrinkymeister needs to eek out a bit more improvement but that is possible, while Alf 'n' Dor is the runner who perhaps still has the most potential in the field. Shanty Town enters calculations, though his stamina over this far is still there to be proven, while Vice Et Vertu loves these conditions and will probably do better now dropped back to this trip. However, CARLTON RYAN represents a stable going well and he is used to getting the job done at lower levels, but he may still have what it takes to add further success to his CV from this mark.