16:20 Catterick

Wednesday 4 March 2020

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:25

Cheltenham Festival On Racing TV Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 6m 35.80s

Skipthescales^p⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 119| D

8/1

Run well on both starts since joining this stable including when 7½L sixth over an extended 2m7f at Newcastle (soft) in January. Races off a 2lb lower mark here with this step up in distance likely to suit.

Form: 1162-36

Transpennine Star^b¹⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 112| BF

8/1

Victorious by a neck in a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Hexham (good) in September but has been absent since finishing 7L fifth off this 3lb higher mark at Huntingdon (3m1f, good) the following month. One to note on his return from a break.

Form: 4333-15

King Of Fashion^t⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Henry Brooke| T: I A Duncan| OR: 110

20/1

Held in two starts for this stable most recently when 24L tenth over an extended 2m7f at Newcastle (soft) in January. Races off a career low mark here and has placed off much higher marks in the past.

Form: P66/0-40

Fresh New Dawn²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: R Johnson| T: O Murphy| OR: 110

4/1

Returning from a break when finishing a good third in a handicap hurdle over 2m7f at Market Rasen (good-to-soft) a month ago. Escaped a rise for that effort and shapes as if this step up in distance will suit.

Form: 43/5-173

Scottish Accent¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Menzies| OR: 107

7/1

Placed in point-to-points in Ireland and has shown ability in both starts under Rules since joining this stable. Beaten 12½L when third over an extended 2m3f at Carlisle (soft) recently and is of interest upped markedly in trip on handicap debut.

Form: 22443

Mamoo^p⁸^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 100| CD

10/3

Winner of two of his last three starts with both victories coming over this C&D including by a head on heavy ground last week. Carries a 7lb penalty for that victory and looks likely to run well once more.

Form: 643121

Craig Star^p³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 102

14/1

Improving with racing since returning from a short break and ran well when finishing 5L second in a 2m1f handicap hurdle at Carlisle (soft) early last month. Step up in trip no issue racing off a 3lb higher mark on this occasion.

Form: 43F552

Strike West²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 100

8/1

Beaten just a head when runner-up over an extended 3m at Haydock (soft) in December and finished a decent 7L fourth at Sedgefield (3m3f, soft) off this 2lb higher mark subsequently. Leading contender in this event.

Form: 2-P6724

Final Fling^p⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 95

12/1

Successful three times over hurdles but has finished held in three starts since returning from well over 18 months off the track most recently when 27L fifth at Wetherby (3m, soft) in December. Others make more appeal at present.

Form: 611/465

Brotherly Company^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 94

12/1

Showed signs of a possible return to form when finishing 11½L third in a 3m1f handicap chase on soft ground here in January. Worth a check in the market racing off a 3lb lower mark on his return to hurdles.

Form: 2/57943

Forecasts

Mamoo (10/3), Fresh New Dawn (4/1), Scottish Accent (7/1), Strike West (8/1), Skipthescales (8/1), Transpennine Star (8/1), Final Fling (12/1), Brotherly Company (12/1), Craig Star (14/1), King Of Fashion (20/1)

FRESH NEW DAWN hails from a yard with a 25% strike-rate (4/16) in the last two weeks and following a good third last time out he can register his second hurdles success on his first attempt at this distance. The selection has run well on soft ground in the past and he can get the better of Strike West who was narrowly beaten on his penultimate start while third place can go to Mamoo who has been in great form at this venue in recent times.