13:00 Catterick

Tuesday 1 January 2019

All12:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

Introducing Racing TV Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 3m 47.6s

Ballyfarsoon^v¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Harry Teal⁽⁵⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 106

13/2

Fair at best on Flat he's yet to win over hurdles (0-6) but has finished runner-up on four occasions with his best run coming in a Worcester novice in October. This track/trip looks as though it will be rather sharp for him though.

Form: 222023

The Herds Garden^p¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 105| D

9/1

Ran his best race for a while when runner-up at Bangor last month leading over the last (blundered there) and headed close home; winner has won again since. Appears better in headgear but far from certain to follow up his last run given his profile.

Form: 3/46-F42

Nicolas Chauvin^v1¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Sean Quinlan| T: James Moffatt| OR: 104| D

11/1

Only modest these days despite being given a chance by the handicapper over fences and now reverts to hurdles off a lenient mark. Took a step back in the right direction last time but found little when asked and still has questions to answer.

Form: 784353

Frozon²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R D Day| T: H Bethell| OR: 99

10/1

Mark gradually slipping; has been flattered over hurdles for the most part and has twice run poor races here; refused at the first on one occasion. Reverts to 2m after failing to settle over 4f further last time; not one to have much confidence in.

Form: 9R-4546

Starplex¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Alan Johns| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 99

50/1

Showed some useful form on the Flat (has won off a mark of 78) but his form since leaving Keith Dalgleish has been poor over hurdles/AW. Hard to fashion a case for him on recent evidence and best watched for now.

Form: 419/5-P8

Kennedys Field¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 98

12/1

Will be suited by this return to 2m after failing on his first run for this yard over 4f further last time; was well supported. That was his handicap debut; down 2lb for this 2nd try in this sphere, of interest especially if he gets free on the lead.

Form: 038-448

Life Knowledge^b²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: J Kington| T: A Crook| OR: 88

12/1

Ran some fair races on the Flat for his previous yard in 2018. Given a chance by the handicapper and in first-time blinkers over hurdles last time (had run of the race) turned in a good performance; chance off similar mark.

Form: 4/666-72

Pullman Brown^h¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: W T Kennedy| T: P A Kirby| OR: 87

20/1

From a stable that have been in stellar form this fairly useful sort on the Flat has yet to really click over hurdles. Made little impression on his handicap debut over hurdles but hard to ignore on better ground for this yard; 7lb lower.

Form: 50P7P

Baratineur³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 84| D

11/8

First run for a yard that are good at rejuvenating this sort who have rather looked to have lost their way. Shaped a little better last time over 2m3f at Taunton (travelled well for much of the race); interesting if there is a market move for him.

Form: 6P-0P05

Strait Run^h1¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 78

20/1

Hood goes on for the first-time having never looked at his best around here (best form at Sedgefield) and finished well held over 2m3f here just before Xmas; trip looked too far. Just out of the handicap here but one of the lesser prospects in this.

Form: 1378-46

Mac Cennetig^p,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 77

9/1

Plummeted in the weights since joining this yard and showed some promise on the back of a wind op in a race at Wetherby (2m5f). Has run poorly since that start though failing to make his expected progress and others preferred.

Form: 805P68

Forecasts

Baratineur (11/8), Ballyfarsoon (13/2), The Herds Garden (9/1), Mac Cennetig (9/1), Frozon (10/1), Nicolas Chauvin (11/1), Life Knowledge (12/1), Kennedys Field (12/1), Strait Run (20/1), Pullman Brown (20/1), Starplex (50/1)

Only a modest event but it is competitive for the grade although a few of these have rather uneven profiles. One of those would be The Herds Garden who is far from certain to build on his last run at Bangor despite that looking good form. Kennedys Field remains of interest and will be dangerous if he gets free on the lead he’s still unexposed in handicaps. It’s hard to ignore anything from the Phil Kirby yard at the moment and whole his Pullman Brown hasn’t shown much over hurdles a repetition of his Flat form would put him in with a chance here. BARATINEUR is the selection though on the back of what he showed at Taunton last time and with his yard doing well with this sort.