15:10 Catterick

Thursday 11 January 2018

All12:3013:0013:3014:0514:3515:1015:45

Racing Again 24th January Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 4m 56.60s

Niceandeasy⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 117| BF

3/1

Has won all three completed starts, two over hurdles and no surprise that he was sent off favourite again for his recent reappearance at Musselburgh. Unseated early there and has to be of interest again this time.

Form: 1-11U

Crackdeloust^b1²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: B Ellison| OR: 115

4/1

Has failed to deliver what he promised in his early races, though did at least break his duck at Sedgefield in the spring. Steps back up in trip here and with blinkers on, he is on a competitive mark if those factors help him produce his best.

Form: 1-33F44

Minstrel Royal^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 114| D

18/1

Sole success from 18 attempts was for Nicky Henderson over 2m3f (good) at Warwick in April. Went close enough in a seller at Fakenham last time (2m4½f, soft). A danger if at his best, but doesn't always produce that.

Form: 037732

Danceintothelight^t¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 114| CD

9/1

Profilic winner and half of his 10 successes have been here, including on soft. Went very close from this mark under today's pilot at Kelso in October, though has not yet won from this high. Short-listed given his great record at the track.

Form: P12644

Iolani¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 110

40/1

Won a bumper (good) and a maiden (heavy) when with Willie Mullins. Well held in both starts over hurdles since joining current yard. Latest 5lb drop makes him more interesting and a market check is suggested.

Form: 32F678

Pokora Du Lys²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 109

3/1

Dropped to this mark before finishing 16L third here over 3m1½f last time out. Weakened late on that day, so shorter trip probably positive and you couldn't say he is fully exposed, but he will need to start going the right way to figure.

Form: 44/48-83

Romulus Du Donjon²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 108| BF| CD

6/1

Scored over C&D (good to soft) in November from a 7lb lower mark, when front pair were 25L clear. Runner-up boosted form with win next time, but this runner has a bit to prove after disappointing at Musselburgh.

Form: 7-44517

Astaroland^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 107

10/1

Hasn't seen much action on recent seasons and has dropped 6lb for two recent runs when comfortably held at both Carlisle and Wetherby. Not yet showing enough to be recommended.

Form: 1/552-94

Non-Runners

Coroberee³¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: T Coyle & K Wood J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Niceandeasy (3/1), Pokora Du Lys (3/1), Crackdeloust (4/1), Romulus Du Donjon (6/1), Coroberee (7/1), Danceintothelight (9/1), Astaroland (10/1), Minstrel Royal (18/1), Iolani (40/1)

Crackdeloust may be able to do better for the fitting of blinkers and if so, he is on a decent mark, while Minstrel Royal is another who would have claims if at his best, but he doesn't always bring his 'A' game. Iolani is worth a market check and Pokora Du Lys is perhaps a more obvious one for today. Romulus Du Donjon has ability and could win this if getting back on track after his Musselburgh flop, though you can more or less set your clock by DANCEINTOTHELIGHT around here and although he is very much the pensioner of the party, he looks a solid option for us again today.