14:45 Wetherby

Tuesday 27 December 2022

All11:5012:2513:0013:3514:1514:4515:20

William Hill Castleford Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:47 | Winning time: 4m 2.17s

Cheddleton³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 146

7/4

Smart chaser. Mostly creditable efforts last season and a sound return to action over hurdles at Haydock last month. That sets him up nicely for this return to fences. Could go well.

Form: 32243-3

Eclair D'Ainay^t³⁰⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 145| BF| CDWS

8/1

Gained a third career success under a positive ride in this race last year and backed it up with two excellent efforts in defeat. Should give another good account if he's tuned up after 10 months off.

Form: 2/4P122-

Friend Or Foe^p²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| D

17/2

Useful handicapper who won twice on his debut season over fences. Should prove sharper for the run over hurdles but improvement needed to defy current mark.

Form: 13313-7

Malystic⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny McMenamin| T: P D Niven| OR: 142| CD

13/2

Lightly raced since winning 2 novice chases in late-2020 but proved he retains plenty of ability when runner-up behind Gold Des Bois on return in Kelso handicap (17f), possible he would have won if asked for his effort sooner. Reported to have scoped dirty when pulled up at Cheltenham after.

Form: 2/U2-42P

Cornerstone Lad^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 140| CD

16/1

Smart hurdler who opened chase account with cheekpieces refitted over C&D in January. Not disgraced since, including on return, but essentially isn't quite as good over fences as hurdles.

Form: 45123-4

Daly Tiger⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: R P McLernon| T: L Morgan| OR: 139

50/1

Smart winning hurdler/chaser at his best for Noel Meade but has lost his way and offered little for new yard at Ascot/Cheltenham.

Form: 40F-063

No Risk Des Flos³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Murphy| OR: 134| CD

7/2

Four-time winner over hurdles who left his chase debut well behind when 6-runner handicap chase over C&D 34 days ago, forging clear. 7 lb higher now but likely more to come yet.

Form: 711P-41

And The New^h¹³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Patrick Cowley⁽³⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 128

25/1

Useful 2m 4f winning hurdler for Johnny Farrelly. Placed first 3 starts over fences for this yard but needs to shrug off a below par run at Perth when last seen in August.

Form: 3U-3325

Heartbreak Kid^b²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 127

9/1

Opened his account at the eighth attempt over fences at Sedgefield in January. Found plenty for pressure to follow up at Uttoxeter (2m) 13 days later. Creditable second at Sandown on comeback and should be in the mix again.

Form: 21164-2

Forecasts

Cheddleton (7/4), No Risk Des Flos (7/2), Malystic (13/2), Eclair D'Ainay (8/1), Friend Or Foe (17/2), Heartbreak Kid (9/1), Cornerstone Lad (16/1), And The New (25/1), Daly Tiger (50/1)

CHEDDLETON was over 6 lengths behind Eclair d'Ainay when runner-up in this last year but he's a stone better off with the winner on this occasion and Jennie Candlish's charge is taken to go one better having had a pipe-opener over hurdles last month. No Risk des Flos looks progressive and is another to consider.