13:23 Newcastle

Saturday 7 January 2023

All12:1312:4813:2313:5814:3315:0815:43

Best Odds Guaranteed At Vickers.Bet Everyday Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 5m 23.63s

Castle Rushen¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 130| D

9/2

Reached a fairly useful level as a novice hurdler (placed in listed/Grade 2 company) in 2020/21 before missing all of last season. Unseated rider on chase debut 11 days ago but still appeals as a type to make a better chaser.

Form: 11232/U

O'Toole^t1²⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: D A Jacob| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 130| BF

13/8

Smart bumper performer progressed from run to run in 3 starts over hurdles last term. Should go on improving now switched to chasing and is much respected on his debut in this sphere.

Form: 12/143-

Slanelough⁵¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 129| CD

16/1

Returned to form when springing a minor suprise to land 6-runner C&D event 51 days ago. 5 lb higher and in a deeper contest here, though, so he'll likely need more to follow up.

Form: 2215-61

The King Of May^p⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 126| CD

14/1

C&D winner. Ran well on the book when second of 5 in handicap chase at Doncaster (19.1f, good) 43 days ago, but looked flattered by proximity having gone through the race in a very laboured manner. Bit to prove after that unappealing display.

Form: 2214-32

Dubai Days³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: C O'Farrell| T: N W Alexander| OR: 125| C| D

25/1

Won trio of small-field handicap chases last term. No major impact in pair of starts so far this term, though weakened only late when fifth of 6 in handicap chase at Kelso (17.1f, soft, 9/2) 34 days ago and it's possible he's closer to full fitness now.

Form: 3U11-55

Dalyotin^p¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 124

17/2

Off the mark over fences at Sedgefield (21.1f) in March and started this campaign with good second of 8 in handicap chase at Kelso in November. NOt in same form at Wetherby on Boxing Day but had previously looked on workable mark.

Form: 2041-27

On Springs^v⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Luca Morgan⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 123| D

11/1

Not entirely straightforward but thrived during the summer, winning 4 of his 5 starts after returning from a break in June. Never going well before unseating at Cheltenham last time and further improvement is required to defy career high mark.

Form: 12111P

Sirwilliamwallace⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 122| D

8/1

Recorded a second success over fences at Kelso (21.6f) in November. Lost action at Haydock only 8 days ago and can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals if all is well this time around.

Form: 3P2-31P

Hidden Commander^t³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 117| CD

6/1

Boasts a fine strike rate over fences, having scored on 5 of his 9 chase outings. Eked out bit more improvement to land 7-runner handicap chase at Sedgefield (21.1f, soft, 16/5) 36 days ago. Has to be taken seriously from 4 lb higher mark.

Form: 135131

Non-Runners

Thatsy³⁴⁶

Weight: 10-13| Age: 9

T: Lizzie Quinlan J: Sean Quinlan

Forecasts

O'Toole (13/8), Castle Rushen (9/2), Hidden Commander (6/1), Sirwilliamwallace (8/1), Dalyotin (17/2), On Springs (11/1), The King Of May (14/1), Slanelough (16/1), Thatsy (20/1), Dubai Days (25/1)

O'TOOLE is a fascinating chase debutant and a chance is taken that he'll be able to get closer to his smart bumper form in this sphere after a steadily progressive novice hurdling campaign, albeit at a lower level than many expected. Hidden Commander has been a revelation since sent chasing for the Coltherds and should prove a formidable rival, with Castle Rushen also expected to prove a better chaser.