14:15 Kelso

Sunday 14 January 2018

All12:4013:1013:4014:1514:4515:1515:45

Children's Immunology Trust Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 5m 43.0s

Katachenko³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 135| C

7/4

Won the very competitive Red Rum Chase (2m) at Aintree two seasons ago from 2lb lower and comes here after good effort when beaten just a nose there (2m4f) last time. Acts on soft/heavy and should be competitive, if vulnerable from 4lb higher.

Form: 3520U-2

Takingrisks²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 130| CD

5/2

Goes well here and has won over both hurdles/fences over 2m6½f (heavy) at the track. Ran well when 6L second from this mark on his return at Doncaster last month and couldn't rule out a bit more improvement. Claims.

Form: F214P-2

Ramonex¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Cook| T: R Hobson| OR: 128

5/2

2-5 since joining this trainer, the latest being his first chase success at Catterick (2m3f, soft) with plenty in hand. 8lb rise is probably fair, but this line-up is tougher and he will need to continue his upward curve to back it up.

Form: 51-2531

No No Mac^t³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: D R Fox| T: I A Duncan| OR: 127| D

14/1

Won over 3m for Charlie Longsdon and scored at first attempt on joining this yard at Ayr (2m4½f, soft) in February. Yet to threaten in three starts this term and that gives him a bit to prove in a competitive heat.

Form: 373-56F

Jet Master^h,t⁴²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-1| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 124| C

18/1

Goes on any ground and won a couple of races here in 2014. Effective at up to 2m6½f, to all his wins have been over shorter than today's trip. 2lb drop here should give him a squeak back over fences and not ruled out despite nagging doubt over trip.

Form: 3-51646

Un Guet Apens^b1²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: C O'Farrell| T: J Ewart| OR: 122

16/1

Conditions are ideal for this lightly-raced gelding who won over 2m4f at Carlisle in November from just 2lb lower. Faces stiffer opposition today and was a shade disappointing last time, but blinkers may help and not ruled out.

Form: P22-164

Top Cat Henry^p,t²³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 120

40/1

Scored over this trip at Wetherby a couple of years ago and is back on the same mark today. Won a point-to-point on soft, though rules wins have been on better ground. Tough call on first run since a point-to-point in May.

Form: 2510P-4

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to board prices only - deduction 5p in the pound

Non-Runners

Caraline¹⁹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 7

T: Micky Hammond J: Joe Colliver

Forecasts

Katachenko (7/4), Ramonex (5/2), Takingrisks (5/2), Caraline (7/2), No No Mac (14/1), Un Guet Apens (16/1), Jet Master (18/1), Top Cat Henry (40/1)

Katachenko is very much respected with soft ground to suit, but his CV suggests that from 4lb higher than his Aintree win he might find something to beat him and the suggestion is TAKINGRISKS. Nicky Richards' charge goes well here and is not beyond improvement after a decent reappearance. Ramonex and Caraline both come here in form and cannot be ruled out, though more is required of them, while Un Guet Apens could get heavily involved if the blinkers are a positive.