13:55 Catterick

Wednesday 24 January 2018

All13:2013:5514:3015:0015:3516:05

Racing UK Profits Returned To Racing Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 7m 3.28s

Pinch Of Ginger^p1²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 102

3/1

A controversial 'winner' (finished second) on his second start over fences at Bangor earlier this month (2m4f+ heavy). Up 3lb, but shouldn't be unduly troubled by this extra yardage. More to offer if fencing with a greater fluency in cheek-pieces.

Form: 632-3F1

So Satisfied^p⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 99

5/1

Off the track since July, prior to last Friday's solid effort at Musselburgh (3m soft) when finishing 1¾L second to Misfits. That race probably wasn't the strongest of contests, and he doesn't win all that often, but surely sharper for that run.

Form: 46-5762

Bentons Lad¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Jamie Hamilton⁽³⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 96

16/1

A longstanding maiden under rules (25 attempts), he was having his first start for this stable at Sedgefield recently when finishing a well beaten fifth of eight to Instant Replay (2m3f+ soft). Not the most obvious of picks by any means.

Form: 232-355

Lansdowne Road^p1¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Danny Cook| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 95

33/1

Has seen precious little racing for his age (point-to-point winner) which implies that he's had a few issues. Handicapping is likely to suit him best (outclassed in novice events) and this race should tell us more for the future. Wears cheek-pieces.

Form: 54/35-P9

Smuggler's Stash^v¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 95

8/1

A stamina laden stayer when on song, and a case of sorts can be built for him from his current handicap mark (his last winning one). However, he needs to leave his latest Sedgefield effort firmly in the past in order to be competitive.

Form: 10-P263

Cant Pay Wont Pay¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr D Delahunt⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 90

14/1

Dual point-to-point scorer who also won under rules in Ireland when trained by Mark Fahey (2m7f+ good). Has failed to complete in two of his last three starts (unseated rider), and that's the major worry at this sharp track.

Form: 292U3U

Spirit Of Hale^p²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 89

7/1

Not fully exposed over fences after just a couple of starts, but is an 11 race maiden overall, and finished behind Pinch Of Ginger at Bangor earlier this month, so needs to find an ounce of improvement over this longer trip (could suit).

Form: 7475-44

Ronnie Lawson⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 87| BF

7/2

Unbeaten in three starts in point-to-points, and has already shown under rules that he's likely to be a better chaser than a hurdler. Up 2lb, after being caught close home by Corner Creek at Southwell early last month (3m good). Every chance.

Form: 11/P642

Major Ridge⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 79| CD

20/1

Held on gamely from a similar mark to take this contest by 2¾L from Suzy's Music in 2017, but he's recorded just one completion since then (F,P,P,U,9), so it's hard not too say that success was an outlier.

Form: 1FPPU-9

Court Painter⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 78

33/1

Won once in ten starts in point-to-points, and hasn't really proved competitive in four attempts under rules (career), including when finishing well behind So Satisfied at Musselburgh last week.

Form: P/U48-24

Houndscourt^t²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 77

20/1

Not managed a success for almost 12 months (3m good to soft at Wetherby, January 2017). Probably needed the race at Sedgefield in November (seasonal bow), and slightly better next time, but others make much more appeal.

Form: 2548-P4

Brown Trix^p,t⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 76

10/1

A nine race maiden who has possibly improved a fraction since joining this trainer. Paid the price for a bad mistake (lost all chance) at Doncaster latest, and returns off the same mark worthy of a cursory glance for signs of market support.

Form: P594P8

Forecasts

Pinch Of Ginger (3/1), Ronnie Lawson (7/2), So Satisfied (5/1), Spirit Of Hale (7/1), Smuggler's Stash (8/1), Brown Trix (10/1), Cant Pay Wont Pay (14/1), Bentons Lad (16/1), Major Ridge (20/1), Houndscourt (20/1), Lansdowne Road (33/1), Court Painter (33/1)

Pinch of Ginger has attracted plenty of trade column inches since his controversial 'success' at Bangor earlier in the month, but he makes the shortlist off just 3lb higher, and should go well especially if the application of first time cheek-pieces further enhances his rather sketchy fencing technique. Brown Trix lurks as a possible market springer at the foot of the handicap, but 2017 winner Major Ridge makes precious little appeal based upon his subsequent performances. Spirit of Hale could potentially make the frame tackling this trip for the first time, but the vote swings towards RONNIE LAWSON. Chasing clearly seems to agree with this nine-year-old three time point-to-point winner, and a reproduction of his latest effort at Southwell in early December is likely to prove good enough in a low-key affair.