13:15 Catterick

Tuesday 14 December 2021

All12:1512:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:15

Clare Newnam Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 48.70s

Top Beak²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Hammond| T: M Young| OR: 105| C

33/1

Thrived over hurdles this spring, making it 3 wins in decisive fashion at Fakenham. Ran no sort of race at Ludlow on return, however, and not an obvious chasing type.

Form: 14-116P

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Barnay^b²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 100

15/2

Enjoyed a good spell last winter, scoring twice at up to 19.8f either side of placed efforts. However, ran poorly tried chasing both starts this term.

Form: 2146-78

Chesterville^h⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 100

16/1

Ex-Irish winning hurdler but far from a natural chaser and has made a quiet start for this yard.

Form: 38269B

Thelongwayaround²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 97

5/1

Fair hurdles winner who has been lightly raced in recent years and was in the process of running poorly when departing 2 out at Wetherby on return.

Form: 42/073-U

Path To Freedom^t¹⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward| OR: 97

12/1

Still to get his head in front but often in the frame. Poor effort when last seen in June but type to bounce back.

Form: 3522-47

Balranald^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 95| D

10/1

Failed to strike in 15 attempts over hurdles but made first start over fences a winning one at Sedgefield 3 weeks ago, the change of discipline evidently doing something for him. Should go well again.

Form: 4-24891

Melanamix¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: R M Smith| OR: 93

6/1

Point winner who has displayed some promise over hurdles and shaped well when third at Ayr on chase bow, left with a lot to do and not knocked about. Likely to build on that and needs considering.

Form: 4P4-463

Whitechurch^p1²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 87

8/1

Uninspiring record over hurdles but is a winning pointer and better for chase debut when third at Ludlow despite seemed unsuited by track. May do better again back at left-handed course. Headgear on.

Form: 65-0U43

Zen Master⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 79

22/1

Form: PP4414

Spot On Soph^h,t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 76

4/1

Poor form over hurdles last term. However, was in the process of showing much-improved form on chase debut when departing at the last at Catterick on return (booked for second). 3 lb out of weights.

Form: 07475-F

Madam Scully^t³⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 67WS

100/1

Poor maiden hurdler who offered little both starts over fences when last seen a year ago. 12 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 30/0467-

Marias Lad^b1,t1²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: R Potter| OR: 20

9/2

Unplaced in a point and has shown nothing in all 4 outings over hurdles. Miles out of the handicap on chase bow.

Form: 5-00PP

Forecasts

Spot On Soph (4/1), Marias Lad (9/2), Thelongwayaround (5/1), Melanamix (6/1), Barnay (15/2), Whitechurch (8/1), Balranald (10/1), Path To Freedom (12/1), Chesterville (16/1), Zen Master (22/1), Top Beak (33/1), Madam Scully (100/1)

MELANAMIX was given a considerate introduction to chasing when a promising third on her chase bow at Ayr and she gets the vote with improvement forthcoming. Whitechurch was a good third at Ludlow 3 weeks ago despite seeming unsuited by the right-handed track so may do better again going the other way around, while Balranald looked suited by the switch to fences when scoring at Sedgefield.