14:35 Newcastle

Monday 26 December 2022

All11:4512:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:10

Vickers.Bet Family Owned Independent Bookmaker Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:37 | Winning time: 5m 19.64s

If Not For Dylan²²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 115| D

8/1

Justified strong support and proved better than ever when successful at Perth in May. Not at best last 2 starts, though.

Form: 132484

Crixus's Escape^p,t⁷⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 115| D

28/1

Things evidently haven't gone to plan after his latest success in a 3m Ayr handicap chase in November 2020. However, he's now 15 lb below that winning mark and while he offered little on his reappearance over hurdles, that spin will have blown away the cobwebs.

Form: 6P2P2-7

Fusain^p,t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: P Neville| OR: 115

20/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser for Henry de Bromhead. Operating below that level since coming to Britain, no match for winner when second at Doncaster latest.

Form: 644-652

Avoid De Master⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 114| C| D

12/1

In fine form during the spring, bagging handicap chases at Hexham (3m) and Market Rasen. Creditable return over hurdles at the former track but underperformed back in this sphere at Kelso.

Form: 53-1126

Road Warrior^t,v²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Ryan Mania| T: R Menzies| OR: 113| CD

16/1

Consistent sort who signed off for last term with good second of 6 in handicap chase at Sedgefield (19f) in April but yet to fire this season.

Form: 2P2-764

Heroique De Maulde^t⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 110

9/4

Dual chase winner in France last autumn. Only edged out near finish on UK debut when second of 7 in handicap chase (11/4) at Newcastle (20.1f, good) last month and should go well again.

Form: 31R21-2

Just Don't Know²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Paul Robson| OR: 110| D

11/2

Confirmed promise of Newcastle run when cashing in on a career-low mark at Leicester in January. Continued good work since, following up at Ayr before excellent effort here. Good second at Kelso on return and has a likeable way of going about things.

Form: 21124-2

Heltenham^t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: David England| T: D Skelton| OR: 109| BF

4/1

Ex-French bumper winner/lightly-raced hurdler, has the build for chasing and took to it well enough after 7 months off at Stratford (21f), Built on that when second at Southwell and open to further improvement.

Form: 2032-22

Wye Aye^h⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 108| C

18/1

Won 4 times over fences but recent efforts have been well below par. Best watched for now.

Form: 71U-277

Hello Judge^t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Coltherd| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 105

15/2

Lightly-raced winner who left chase bow/return well behind when second over C&D last month, albeit no match for winner.

Form: P1/46-72

Contre Ordre^t1²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Miss Becky Smith| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 106

33/1

Fairly useful chaser in France but well held both starts for current yard.

Form: 155-495

Non-Runners

Fete Champetre⁵¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: R Dobbin J: Craig Nichol

Son Of The Somme³⁰

Weight: 11-10| Age: 7

T: B Ellison J: Henry Brooke

Forecasts

Heroique De Maulde (9/4), Heltenham (4/1), Son Of The Somme (5/1), Just Don't Know (11/2), Hello Judge (15/2), If Not For Dylan (8/1), Fete Champetre (12/1), Avoid De Master (12/1), Road Warrior (16/1), Wye Aye (18/1), Fusain (20/1), Crixus's Escape (28/1), Contre Ordre (33/1)

A dual winner over fences in France, HEROIQUE DE MAULDE came very close to making a winning UK debut over C&D on his return last month, pulling clear of the rest, so has to be taken seriously up 4 lb. Heltenham built on his chase bow when second at Southwell and has further improvement in him, so rates the main threat ahead of the likeable Just Don't Know.