16:15 Catterick

Tuesday 25 February 2020

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:45

Easby Abbey Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:16 | Winning time: 6m 50.7s

Above Board⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 120

8/1

Best form on a sound surface but won on soft in his early days. Struggled to recpature best form last two seasons and come down the weights without obvious improvement. Fell heavily on first circuit at Wetherby last time.

Form: 766-88F

Agamemmon³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 119

9/2

Stayed on well to land Sedgefield 3m2f h'cap chase penultimate start on soft and fair third latest on good ground at Doncaster off 8lb higher. Eased 1lb and has in-form jockey on board again.

Form: 64-7213

Fionn Mac Cul³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 118

20/1

Won two heavy ground novice hurdles back in 2016 then off for three years. Pulled up both starts in last year over hurdles and fences (lost shoe at Uttoxeter last month). Big step up in trip but has questions to answer on recent evidence.

Form: 131P/PP

Loose Chips^v³⁶

Age: 14| Weight: 11-10| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 118| D

12/1

Grand veteran who recorded his 11th success when winning last time out at Plumpton off a 3lb lower mark. Still well handicapped on his old form and young conditional takes valuable 5lb off his back.

Form: 5-84431

Cairnshill⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 115| D

12/1

Won twice over hurdles last spring but has shown fair form without winning in six starts so far over fences. Handles testing conditions and eased 3lb since last below-par run when rider stated he failed to handle tacky ground.

Form: 223U35

Ask Paddy^p³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 110| CD

7/2

Completed second hat-trick of his career when scoring at Sedgefield last time off 8lb lower than today having previously won in good style twice over C&D. Clearly in great heart but has more to find to land four-timer. Should be thereabouts though.

Form: P54111

Absolutely Dylan⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 109

4/1

Last win came off this mark at Haydock (3m) in December 2018. Patchy form since and has been frustrating. Fell on first circuit at Wetherby last month. Yard has 19% winners in chases at this venue.

Form: 48P5-5F

Grange Ranger⁸⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 109

10/1

Only modest form in four starts for Jamie Snowden last season over hurdles and in one chase. Second in point in December prior to joining current yard. Looks to face stiff task on form thus far.

Form: F/485-82

Late Date³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 105

22/1

Ran on well to beat Agamemmon at Sedgefield in November and is 4lb better off here with that rival. Well beaten there last time off 1lb higher and need to return to very best to trouble the principals.

Form: P-31P36

Againn Dul Aghaidh^t⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 94

13/2

Only win from 11 attempts under Rules came over 3m at Ffos Las last June on a sound surface for Alan Jones. Fair first run for current yard when third at Warwick 2m4f latest and not out of this getting lots of weight stepping back up in trip.

Form: PP-1PP3

Forecasts

Ask Paddy (7/2), Absolutely Dylan (4/1), Agamemmon (9/2), Againn Dul Aghaidh (13/2), Above Board (8/1), Grange Ranger (10/1), Loose Chips (12/1), Cairnshill (12/1), Fionn Mac Cul (20/1), Late Date (22/1)

A trappy affair with plenty having claims and a chance is taken that CAIRNSHILL can put in a clear round and spring a surprise. He goes well in this ground and was set to go very close at Newcastle three starts back when unseating two out. Ask Paddy has a decent chance of completing a four-timer despite an 8lb hike in the weights. He could not be in better form, while old rivals Agamemmon and Late Date are not out of this if things go their way. Veteran Loose Chips will give his all and comes here on the back of a win at Plumpton, and getting lots of weight Againn Dul Agaidh could figure if handling conditions.