15:40 Catterick

Thursday 11 January 2024

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Racing Again 24th January Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 4m 7.9s

Fricotin^t⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 12-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 111

50/1

A fairly useful hurdles/chase winner for Francois Nicolle in 2022 but no show in a handicap chase/hurdle for new yard this winter. Too soon to write off but has something to prove for now.

Form: 1556-P6

Freddy Robinson³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: William Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 110| D

10/3

Fair maiden on Flat who ran out an easy winner of thin 2m Musselburgh juvenile in December. Down the field both starts on the level recently but did post a good third in a handicap at aforementioned venue when last seen over hurdles.

Form: 414933-

Thunderclap⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: David Bass| T: H Morrison| OR: 110

6/4

Fairly useful handicapper on Flat and made steady progress in this sphere last season, winning a Sedgefield maiden in April. Possibly in need of run back from 8 months off at Bangor 40 days ago and better showing anticipated.

Form: 67421-5

Present Fair²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 105| D

11/4

Brushed off a disappointing run over fences when winning 10-runner handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (15.8f, heavy, 28/1) 20 days ago. 3 lb rise shouldn't prevent another good run.

Form: 445-351

Very Excellent³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁵⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 103

20/1

Produced his best effort for a while (fit from the Flat) when beaten only by an unexposed one in 10-runner handicap hurdle at Cartmel (17.2f, soft) in August. Wasn't in anything like the same form at Market Rasen 3 months later, though.

Form: 86P6-26

Polisud¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 99

7/1

Fairly useful chase/hurdle winner at best in France but has shown little in 4 outings for current yard. Down in trip.

Form: 56P-PP5

Jumbo Veste Verte⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Luke Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: T R Gretton| OR: 90

28/1

Little solid form and needs to find plenty of improvement now handicapping.

Form: 6-94

Non-Runners

Harel Du Marais¹

Weight: 12-2| Age: 7

T: M Walford J: Jamie Hamilton

One Eye On Vegas¹

Weight: 10-9| Age: 7

T: S Edmunds J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Thunderclap (6/4), Present Fair (11/4), Freddy Robinson (10/3), Harel Du Marais (6/1), Polisud (7/1), One Eye On Vegas (8/1), Very Excellent (20/1), Jumbo Veste Verte (28/1), Fricotin (50/1)

THUNDERCLAP made steady progress in this sphere last season and, with his reappearance under his belt, he's put forward as the answer. Present Fair came out on top under a hands-and-heels ride at Uttoxeter last month and looks sure to go well again.