13:35 Catterick

Friday 28 December 2018

All12:2513:0013:3514:0514:4015:15

Go Racing In Yorkshire Winter Festival Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 4m 44.00s

Arthur Mac²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: L Heard| T: Henry Oliver

5/4

Signs of a revival on debut for new yard last time out; more required but is still learning, so worth a betting check at least.

Form: 10-44

Chosen Flame¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin

100/1

Has decent form in point-to-points to his name but two starts over hurdles have been moderate at best. Probably needs a longer trip already.

Form: P43-166

Imperial Elixir^t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien

14/1

Signs of ability in bumpers but didn't make much progress when switched to hurdles last time. A lot more required and probably needs more time and experience under his belt.

Form: 65-54

Sir Runs A Lot¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond

66/1

Moderate handicapper on the Flat (rated 65 at his best has been regressive); and was much the same on hurdles bow here just before Christmas. May have needed the run on that occasion but still needs to take another step forward.

Form: 4

Speedy Cargo³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| BF

10/3

Former pointer that makes plenty of appeal, in this company, on the pick of his efforts. Likes to make the running and comes into this on the back of his best effort under rules to date. Worth considering.

Form: 332-452

Tab Hogarth^h,v1²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: C O'Farrell| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer

150/1

Failed to complete any of his three previous starts over hurdles and is hard to recommend on that evidence. The first-time visor needs to drag a lot of improvement out of the gelding.

Form: 5UR-U

The Steward^v²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: James Moffatt| OR: 115

12/1

Yet to win but has made the frame in all seven previous starts over hurdles; likes Cartmel but latest start proved that he can act on different track at least. Not much to find to get involved and ought to be thereabouts once more.

Form: 223222

Time For Another²⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: R Johnson| T: O Murphy

5/2

Posted a respectable effort on debut run in a bumper for Kim Bailey back in March; pedigree suggests he'll have no issues switching to hurdles and, with the champion jockey in the plate, he ticks a lot of the right boxes.

Form: 3-

Whiteoak Stroller³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

22/1

Bumper form was just ordinary but has shown ability over timber up to press. This represents a step up in trip, which may be appreciated. Worth a betting check.

Form: 46/44-5

Non-Runners

Oscar Nomination²²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: G Hanmer J: Ross Chapman

Forecasts

Arthur Mac (5/4), Time For Another (5/2), Speedy Cargo (10/3), The Steward (12/1), Imperial Elixir (14/1), Oscar Nomination (20/1), Whiteoak Stroller (22/1), Sir Runs A Lot (66/1), Chosen Flame (100/1), Tab Hogarth (150/1)

As SPEEDY CARGO may be allowed to dictate the pace as he likes, the gelding could provide the key to a tricky little race to fathom. The five-year-old showed improvement last time out and could be hard to peg back if allowed an easy time on the front-end. Time For Another is less exposed and has to merit a second looks in the betting with Richard Johnson booked for the ride; while no one would argue that The Steward doesn't deserve a change of fortune and is another bear in mind. Arthur Mac is unexposed and completes the shortlist.