14:25 Catterick

Tuesday 17 December 2019

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

Buy Your 2020 Annual Badge Today Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 58.50s

Decor Irlandais¹¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr N McParlan⁽³⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 145

3/1

Multiple point winner who scored twice at Cartmel on his first two hurdle starts (2m6f) in the summer and also ran well in handicaps at Sligo and back at Cartmel. Carries double penalty, but should be a contender again.

Form: 211124

Ben Buie¹⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: M Keighley

40/1

Made a promising start in a good ground Ascot bumper last year, but disappointed thereafter. Trainer's runners at this venue always to be respected, however, and no surprise to see him do better again now hurdling.

Form: 260-8

Champagne Noir³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon

6/1

Has shown promise in a novices' hurdle on good to soft, but well held at Aintree last time when conditions were more testing. Has to bounce back from that, but could do on this forecast drier surface.

Form: 3-26

Chelsea's Boy⁸²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

50/1

Scored on the Flat over 1m4f, but has been off since September 2017. Trainer has a good record here, so any market warmth would make this gelding interesting, but percentage call is to watch after such an absence.

Form:

Dagian^p²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum Bewley| T: James Moffatt| OR: 105

50/1

Arrives after a couple of lack lustre efforts, although possible that he needed last month's run at this venue after four months off. Has to prove he gets this trip, but if so, then he couldn't be ruled out of the frame.

Form: 5222-50

Devour²⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: S Corbett

100/1

Was placed in a couple of points last season, but well held on both those occasions. Changed hands for £8,000 in May, but it would be a surprise if he proves good enough on this rules debut.

Form: 32-

Eden Collonges¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr John Dawson⁽³⁾| T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward

100/1

Triple point winner (all on a sound surface), but well held in all three starts under rules this year and others are readily preferred.

Form: P11-090

Frimeur De Lancray⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S SmithWS

9/2

50-1 and well held on debut in October, although the form perhaps looks a bit better than it first appeared. Step up in trip should suit, and no surprise to see more from him after wind surgery.

Form: 5

Jamboulet

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: C E Longsdon

25/1

Half-brother to a 2m2f hurdle winner, out of a point-winning half-sister to 4, National Hunt Chase winner Keep Talking. Interesting pedigree. Check market for clues.

Form:

Mercian Prince²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| D

11/10

Useful chaser at his best, but has disappointed in both starts this season. Reverts to this discipline (first hurdles run since coming to Britain) and should find this easier. Big player if anywhere near his best.

Form: 1801-P5

Strategic¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: M E Sowersby

250/1

Moderate Flat performer and was 100-1 and tailed off before being pulled up at Market Rasen on his recent hurdles debut. Can only watch.

Form: P

Whateva Next³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley

33/1

Good ground point winner who made an encouraging start over hurdles at Hexham (2m4f, soft) in October. Heavy ground a possible excuse next time, but not ruled out if bouncing back on this less testing surface.

Form: 1-57

Fortia²²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 94

50/1

Wasn't far off winning a mares' maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter last year, when with Emma Lavelle. A repeat of that sort of form would give her claims from this mark, and she would be interesting if supported on her debut for this trainer.

Form: 23070-5

Rubiana⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: R P McLernon| T: Caroline Mccaldin

66/1

Trainer won this race two years ago (and also saddles Junius Brutus here), but this point winner looks likely to be her second string after being well held over hurdles so far.

Form: 150-690

Non-Runners

Junius Brutus¹⁷

Weight: 10-12| Age: 9

T: Caroline Mccaldin J: R T Dunne

April Rising¹²

Weight: 10-5| Age: 4

T: S A Harris J: Ross Chapman

Forecasts

Mercian Prince (11/10), Decor Irlandais (3/1), Frimeur De Lancray (9/2), Champagne Noir (6/1), Jamboulet (25/1), Whateva Next (33/1), Ben Buie (40/1), Chelsea's Boy (50/1), Fortia (50/1), Dagian (50/1), Rubiana (66/1), Junius Brutus (66/1), Devour (100/1), Eden Collonges (100/1), April Rising (100/1), Strategic (250/1)

Despite losing his way just lately over fences, this race is weak by comparison and MERCIAN PRINCE may be able to utilise his preferred front-running tactics to good effect. Decor Irlandais has a tough task against him at these weights, but will be waiting to take advantage if Amy Murphy's runner can't get back on track. Frimeur De Lancray is also of interest, while Fortia would be if there is some market warmth. Champagne Noir is another not ruled out.