16:00 Catterick

Tuesday 8 August 2023

All14:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:45

Hugh James Handicap

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 3m 30.29s

(8)

Spantik^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Jonny Peate⁽³⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 61

10/3

Eleven runs since last win in 2021. 9/1, good second of 13 in handicap at this C&D (good to firm) 27 days ago. Expected to be thereabouts again in refitted cheekpieces.

Form: 7756-32

(5)

Hellenista^p²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 60| D

16/5

Ran best race for a while when second in 8-runner handicap at Carlisle (17.2f) in June and not disgraced when fourth in a stronger affair at York (16.2f) latest. Ease back down to class 6 company a plus and she's not dismissed out of hand.

Form: 864-524

(4)

Winklevi^v²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: P D Evans| OR: 58| D

17/2

Back on the scoreboard at Chelmsford (2m) in January and ran best race for a while (in refitted visor) when third at Chepstow (2m) on his penultimate start. Similar form when fourth at Wolverhampton (16.6f) latest and he's not out of things back on turf.

Form: 279434

(6)

Lord Torranaga¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: A Mullen| T: P A Kirby| OR: 55| C

16/5

Course winner. Fifteen runs since last win in 2022. 11/2, good third of 10 in handicap at Newcastle (16.2f) 10 days ago, switched final 1f and staying on. Hard to knock recent consistency and this mark well within reach.

Form: 573243

(2)

Easter Icon⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Connor Beasley| T: J Channon| OR: 53| D

5/1

Winner at Southwell (16.5f) in April. Creditable fourth of 13 in handicap at Wolverhampton (16.6f, 5/1) 64 days ago. Still needs to prove himself as effective on turf.

Form: 4-21384

(1)

Oh So Chic^p⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Joanna Mason| T: Sara Ender| OR: 49

12/1

Boasts just one win from 23 starts but often runs well around here, back to form when fourth in a C&D handicap in June. Subsequent run at Redcar was a disappointing one but no real surprise where she to bounce back from an easing mark.

Form: 28-9649

(9)

Tiberio Force^p⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: T Eaves| T: S Whitaker| OR: 48

18/1

Fourth of 7 in handicap at Beverley (12.1f, good to firm, 5/1) 42 days ago. Cheekpieces back on now upped significantly in trip.

Form: D-77734

(3)

Third Avenue⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Crook| OR: 45

125/1

Ran best race for present yard when third at Southwell (16.5f) in February but proved disappointing over hurdles more recently, again offering little when pulled up at Market Rasen (20.6f) 2 months ago. Others preferred back on the Flat.

Form: 8/8-8734

Non-Runners

(7)

Mancini²⁴

Weight: 9-10| Age: 9

T: P Morris J: Barry McHugh

Forecasts

Lord Torranaga (16/5), Hellenista (16/5), Spantik (10/3), Easter Icon (5/1), Winklevi (17/2), Oh So Chic (12/1), Mancini (16/1), Tiberio Force (18/1), Third Avenue (125/1)

A number with claims, including SPANTIK who again ran with credit when runner-up over C&D 4 weeks ago and could be worth siding with to capitalise on his reduced mark. Lord Torranaga similarly arrives in good heart and is feared, with Oh So Chic, returned to this venue, and Hellenista others worth a look.