14:45 Catterick

Saturday 1 January 2022

All12:2513:0013:3514:1514:4515:20

racingtv.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 6m 37.95s

Path To Freedom^p,t¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Page Fuller| T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward| OR: 93

14/1

Still to get his head in front and below par on return from 6 months off here last month. May have needed that but others more convincing. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 522-475

Chase The Wind^t³⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 91

10/1

Now 8 lb lower than for his latest success at Uttoxeter in April and, not disgraced at Market Rasen (23.9f) last time, this veteran is not out of things.

Form: 13-P524

Catlin^p⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul O'Brien| T: N Kent| OR: 88WS

11/1

Bounced back to form when taking 2-runner handicap at Newcastle (23.4f, good to firm) 44 days ago. This is more competitive but she's likely to make another bold show. Had wind operation.

Form: 3317-P1

Spot On Soph^h,t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 87| C

8/11

Career best when winning 12-runner handicap chase at this course (19.2f, good) 18 days ago. Worth a crack at this longer trip and is one for shortlist.

Form: 7475-F1

Whitechurch^p¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 86

16/1

Point winner who left chase debut form behind when third in Ludlow handicap (23.8f) in November. Unseated early on tried in cheekpieces here since, but possibilities if getting round this time.

Form: 5-0U43U

The Very Thing^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 75

33/1

Long-standing maiden who has cut little ice in either start over fences.

Form: 658545

Hidden Cargo²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Thomas Dowson| T: J C Haynes| OR: 72

16/1

Remains a maiden after 26 starts and was well below best on return last month.

Form: P357P5

Iskabeg Lane^p²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-4| J: Sam Coltherd| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 71

22/1

Temperamental sort. Not scored since 2019 and hard to be encouraged by last month's Hexham return.

Form: PP74-7P

Tumbling Dice^p1⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 69| BF

11/2

Has yet to threaten following 12 starts overall, and jumping lacked fluency when third in a 4-runner affair at Newcastle in November.

Form: 990-753

Non-Runners

Choctaw Brave¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 8

T: T Reed J: Harry Reed

Forecasts

Spot On Soph (8/11), Tumbling Dice (11/2), Chase The Wind (10/1), Choctaw Brave (10/1), Catlin (11/1), Path To Freedom (14/1), Hidden Cargo (16/1), Whitechurch (16/1), Iskabeg Lane (22/1), The Very Thing (33/1)

SPOT ON SOPH is going the right way and can follow up last month's course victory. Catlin and Whitechurch look the likeliest dangers.