13:20 Catterick

Monday 1 January 2024

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:39

Best Odds Guaranteed At Vickers.Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 4m 0.52s

Vocal Duke^p³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Leah Noreci⁽¹⁰⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 105| D

6/1

Back on-song when runner-up in first-time cheekpieces at Carlisle (17.2f, soft) in October. Failed to back that up at Newcastle next time but he remains on a handy mark and big chance if on a going day.

Form: 567625

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Calevade^p⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 105| CD

7/1

Showed a real liking for Cartmel during the summer, winning back-to-back handicaps in May/June. Good second off this mark at Sedgefield (16.8f, heavy) last time and he's one to consider.

Form: 5-11382

Chase A Fortune⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 105| CD

3/1

Made the most of a good opportunity to get off the mark in a C&D maiden last February. Rather disappointing since but the handicapper is showing mercy and he's dangerous to discount back here.

Form: 2126-58

Restandbethankful^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 104| D

13/2

Three-time winner in this sphere and notched second success over fences at Sedgefield in October. Found just one too good in a Musselburgh handicap chase (20.3f, soft) a fortnight ago and needs considering back hurdling off a 7 lb lower mark.

Form: 312422

High Up In The Air⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 100| D

33/1

Won 5 on the bounce over fences in 2020/21 but hasn't shown much since and was starting to feel the pinch when unseating 4 out on return/debut for new yard in a handicap chase at Sedgefield (19.3f, soft) last week. Hard to know what to expect of him back over hurdles.

Form: P/P7PP-U

Bamboo Bay¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlotte Jones⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 96

40/1

Largely struggled on the Flat in 2023 and beaten a long way returned to hurdles here recently.

Form: 43/0-7

Barranco¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Ross Chapman| T: H Hogarth| OR: 89| D

100/1

Bumper winner for Stuart Crawford in 2021 but lightly-raced since and hasn't shown much in 2 starts for present yard.

Form: 100/45-P

Lovin Jukebox²⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 88

5/1

Best run over hurdles when runner-up on 17f Sedgefield handicap debut in March. Failed to build on that next time but it's still early days and he's worth a second look for a yard that has won this race twice in recent years.

Form: 0/58F26-

Emily Wade^h¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 83

15/2

Made second handicap start a winning one at Southwell in March and placed on her next 4 outings. Form has dipped slightly the last twice but, on the upside, her mark is on the slide and she could have a say.

Form: 230357

Belle Na Bann^t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 80

9/2

Dual winner for Neil Mulholland in summer 2022 and back on track when opening account for Micky Hammond at Newcastle (17f, soft) 18 days ago. 3 lb rise tolerable and she should be in the mix.

Form: 2P-6951

Forecasts

Chase A Fortune (3/1), Belle Na Bann (9/2), Lovin Jukebox (5/1), Vocal Duke (6/1), Restandbethankful (13/2), Calevade (7/1), Emily Wade (15/2), High Up In The Air (33/1), Bamboo Bay (40/1), Barranco (100/1)

RESTANDBETHANKFUL failed to fire on his latest start in this sphere in August but is well worth another chance having hit the crossbar off a 7 lb higher mark over fences recently at Musselburgh where he pulled clear of the rest. Vocal Duke is feared most, for all that he's proving to be rather hit-and-miss, while Belle Na Bann has to enter calculations on the back of her Newcastle success and Chase A Fortune would be a threat if able to get back on track.