14:40 Catterick

Thursday 9 January 2020

All12:2513:0013:3514:0514:4015:1015:45

Watt Fences North Yorkshire Grand National Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 4m 55.90s

Kingswell Theatre^p⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁷⁾| T: M Scudamore| OR: 133| D

15/2

Better known for his cross country exploits these days and was pulled up over an extended 3m2f at Cheltenham (soft) on his return to regulation fences earlier this month. Worth a check in the market having won off higher marks in the past.

Form: 62-556P

Sumkindofking^p,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr N George⁽⁷⁾| T: T R George| OR: 133

6/1

Finished 15L fourth in a handicap chase over 3m at Ludlow (soft) last month on his most recent start. Stamina to prove racing off the same mark as when winning at Southwell (good) in May last year.

Form: 3-14464

Little Bruce^p¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 132

15/8

Making his seasonal debut when finishing 9½L third in a handicap hurdle over an extended 3m at Doncaster (good-to-soft) at the end of last month. Finished runner-up off a 10lb lower mark in this race last year and is interest back over fences.

Form: 22312-3

Milansbar^b⁵⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 11-9| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: N B King| OR: 130

14/1

Beaten 62L when finishing last of six in a 3m handicap chase at Warwick (soft) on seasonal reappearance in November. Given a break since and races off a mark 4lb lower than for his most recent triumph.

Form: 584PP-6

Brian Boranha³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: P D Niven| OR: 130

5/1

Returned from wind surgery with a good 10½L fourth in a 3m5f handicap chase at Sedgefield (sfot) in October. Pulled up over an extended 4m at Kelso (soft) subsequently and is interesting if putting that latest effort behind him.

Form: 830-44P

Pickamix^t,v²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: J McGrath| T: C J Mann| OR: 129

14/1

Returning from nearly 13 months off the track when pulling up in a 3m2f Grade 3 handicap at Cheltenham (soft) last month. Quicker ground forecast here a positive racing off a mark 2lb higher than for his most recent victory.

Form: 2124P-P

Manwell^t³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 117| C

6/1

Improving with racing since wind surgery finishing 6¼L third over 2m5f at Sedgefield (soft) just over a month ago on his most recent outing. Stamina to prove stepping up markedly in distance.

Form: 244-643

Chase The Wind^t²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 115| BF

17/2

Followed up a victory over an extended 2m7f at Huntingdon (good) in October with a good second at Doncaster (3m, good-to-soft) last time out. Interesting contender despite a 2lb rise in the weights.

Form: 352-312

Forecasts

Little Bruce (15/8), Brian Boranha (5/1), Sumkindofking (6/1), Manwell (6/1), Kingswell Theatre (15/2), Chase The Wind (17/2), Pickamix (14/1), Milansbar (14/1)

CHASE THE WIND has been running well in recent starts and he can register a victory stepping up in distance in the 2020 renewal of the North Yorkshire Grand National. The selection has the forecast going to suit and he can see off Little Burce who finished runner-up here 12 months ago. Third place can go to the veteran Milansbar who is well handicapped on his old form.