13:55 Catterick

Tuesday 17 December 2019

All12:2512:5513:2513:5514:2514:5515:25

Birdie's 2020 Wall & Desk Calendars Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 6m 40.1s

Bhutan^t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 122

11/8

Put some ordinary summer form behind him with a win last time out at Ludlow (2m5f, soft), when keeping on well. Up 5lb for that, but looks well treated if he is able to reproduce that sort of effort. Does have stamina to prove, however.

Form: P30-881

Reve^t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: M Keighley| OR: 120| C

10/3

Won a maiden hurdle here (2m3½f, good) in February. Has faced some tough tasks since then in better company, but should appreciate this drop in grade, stays 3m, and a better effort could be on the cards.

Form: 821P-63

Too Many Chiefs^b²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S A Watt| OR: 117| CD

6/1

Prominent racer who was 5lb higher when winning this race last year (soft). Has been well below that form since, but went into last year's contest on the back of some lack lustre efforts, so a return to form here would not surprise.

Form: 1PP-8P3

Quinlandio¹³⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Cook| T: R M Whitaker| OR: 115

40/1

Soft ground Towcester maiden hurdle winner over 2m in December 2014, but has run just three times since then, and not at all since April 2016. Resumes for different trainer and can only watch him in this field.

Form: 82123P/

Katy Royal³⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: J Kington| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 115

22/1

Sees out this trip and more, as evidenced by her 3m3f Sedgefield win in January, when 5lb lower. Was never travelling when pulled up last time out in February. Has won when fresh, so check market for any confidence on her return.

Form: 3F631P-

Little Millie²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 112

22/1

Won back to back races (2m7½f/3m2f, both on good and for Neil King) in the spring, the latter when just 1lb lower. Not as good since then, and needs much more than we saw from her here last time out.

Form: 1-833P4

Gray Day³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 110

4/1

Soft ground Bangor novice winner (2m7f) in 2017, but 0-6 since then. Has slipped to a workable mark, but just one run in the past year and needs to step up significantly on that.

Form: 335/0P-7

The Very Thing²²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 107

25/1

Runner-up twice last year for Olly Murphy, the best of those being when just 1lb lower on his handicap debut at Fakenham (2m, good to soft). Form took a sharp dip earlier in the year and he is probably one to watch on debut for this stable.

Form: 2D537-4

Forecasts

Bhutan (11/8), Reve (10/3), Gray Day (4/1), Too Many Chiefs (6/1), Little Millie (22/1), Katy Royal (22/1), The Very Thing (25/1), Quinlandio (40/1)

If Bhutan can see out this trip he is entitled to go close again, while stamina is no concern with Katy Royal, who could come back strongly after 10-months off. Reve is an interesting runner who could get heavily involved, but this can go to TOO MANY CHIEFS for a second successive season.