14:40 Catterick

Friday 28 December 2018

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

Five Years On Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 6m 25.5s

Bafana Blue^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 103

9/1

Consistent gelding that has conditions to suit. Last of the six finishers at Wetherby latest but ran better than the form figure suggests. Can go close if the ground doesn't deteriorate.

Form: 641526

Iskabeg Lane¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 100

3/1

Not stood much racing lately but expected top strip fitter after a blow out at Southwell earlier in the month. Needs to prove his stamina for the trip, though.

Form: 2F5-634

So Satisfied^p²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 100| CD

8/1

C&D winner who is on a handy mark just now. But has only raced twice since his win here in January and his enthusiasm has to be taken on trust. Yard has been back among the winners, so a move in the betting could be profitable to follow.

Form: 62149-P

Troika Steppes⁷³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 96| D

16/1

A three-time winner over fences and noteworthy that he's back on an attractive mark. However, he's not been the force of old this season and is another whose enthusiasm may be waning after a string of heavy defeats and uncompleted starts.

Form: FP/P07P

Achill Road Boy⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 96

9/2

Consistent and feasible he can cope with his current burden at the weights; the rider's 5lb claim helps on that score. Any rain will boost the gelding's cause. One to bear in mind.

Form: 14-U334

Nortonthorpelegend²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: R Menzies| OR: 88| CD

4/1

Losing run is starting to gather strong momentum and his recent form has been uninspiring to say the least. Leap of faith required to suggest he can tun back the clock even though he's 27lb below his last winning mark.

Form: 44-PPP6

Alto Des Mottes^b¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: H Hogarth| OR: 87

11/1

Rounding off a busy period with his fifth run since the start of November; best effort when second to an 86-rated winner at Doncaster on his penultimate start. This is a lot tougher.

Form: 680326

Shaiyzar^p¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: D Thompson| OR: 82

28/1

7lb better off at the weights with Attention Please from their encounter at Mussleburgh earlier this month but still plenty on to reverse the near 14l beating he received. Hard to suggest a switch in the places on these terms.

Form: 653573

Notonebuttwo¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: K Yeoman⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 81| D

8/1

Has won over this sort of trip but not for a long time and endured mixed fortunes since joining his current yard. His lack of consistency would limit his appeal to a speculative each-way punt at best.

Form: 3-F24P3

Sgt Bull Berry^b1²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: P Maddison| OR: 74

66/1

Extended his poor run of uncompleted starts when pulled up at Doncaster at the start of this month. Very hard to forward with any confidence on his recent profile.

Form: PPP9-PP

Non-Runners

What A Laugh⁸¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 13

T: G Hanmer J: B S Hughes

Attention Please¹⁸

Weight: 11-8| Age: 8

T: R Dobbin J: Craig Nichol

Square Viviani⁴⁶

Weight: 11-6| Age: 7

T: Micky Hammond J: Alain Cawley

Forecasts

Iskabeg Lane (3/1), Nortonthorpelegend (4/1), Attention Please (4/1), Achill Road Boy (9/2), What A Laugh (6/1), So Satisfied (8/1), Notonebuttwo (8/1), Bafana Blue (9/1), Square Viviani (10/1), Alto Des Mottes (11/1), Troika Steppes (16/1), Shaiyzar (28/1), Sgt Bull Berry (66/1)

ATTENTION PLEASE showed a willing attitude to win this race last year and his grim determination will help him off-set a 13lb higher mark this time. The gelding acts well under the predicted conditions and looks worthy of a small investment in his bid for back-to-back wins. Bafana Blue is another with a likeable attitude and can play a strong supporting role, while Achill Road Boy and So Satisfied are a couple of others to keep tabs on in the betting.