14:25 Catterick

Wednesday 24 January 2024

All12:5013:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Best Odds Guaranteed At Vickers.Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 5m 7.1s

Autumn Return¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 119| BF| C

10/3

Course winner who posted a career best when bagging 6-runner handicap hurdle at Musselburgh (19.8f, soft) in November. Had no answer to a revitalised one at Market Rasen 15 days ago but remains one to be interested in, especially now back up in trip.

Form: 241-212

Hajey²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 117| CD

9/2

Progressive in handicaps last season, landing this race, and returned to form to resume winning ways in 4-runner C&D handicap (heavy) 27 days ago, staying on to lead again run-in. Nudged up 4 lb and likely to go well once more.

Form: 21-3P61

Sambezi^p,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: G Sheehan| T: O Signy| OR: 116| D

14/1

Resumed winning ways with a dominant display in a 20f Worcester handicap hurdle in May. Hit with a 9 lb rise on the back of that and shaped as if better for the run after 8 months off when last of 3 in a Fontwell handicap (17.7f) 29 days ago.

Form: 3213-13

Golfe Clair²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 116

14/1

Made a winning hurdles debut for Joseph Patrick O'Brien back in June 2021 and doubled his tally on his first start for his current yard later that summer. Picked up another win at Sedgefield in March 2022 and understandably shaped as if needing the run on first start since there last month.

Form: U1521/6

Herakles Westwood⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 108| D

9/4

Fair form in bumpers and much improved over hurdles when landing 13-runner handicap at Lingfield (19.5f, good to soft) in November. Handled dire conditions fine when following up from 9 lb higher at Fontwell (21.8f, heavy) last month and every chance he can make it 3 on the spin.

Form: P94-711

Iwa⁵⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 108

100/1

Dual chase winner in France who showed fair form when placed twice from 3 races over hurdles in 2021/22. Has a long absence to overcome on first start for new yard and market can prove a good guide.

Form: P/5261-

City Derby¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 106

33/1

Consistent sort who produced a rare below-par effort after 3 months off when a well-held sixth in 8-runner handicap hurdle at Musselburgh (19.8f, soft) 19 days ago. Type to bounce back quickly.

Form: 224326

Coral Blue³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: D Bourke| OR: 103| CD

28/1

Three-time winner last season but hasn't fired both starts this term. On the plus side, his mark continues to ease.

Form: 6118-95

Captain Potter¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: B Ellison| OR: 116

11/2

Fair maiden on Flat (stays 1½m) for Mark Walford who left his hurdling debut form well behind when winning 8-runner maiden at Sedgefield (19.8f, heavy) 12 days ago. Heads into handicaps now armed with a handy weight-for-age allowance and should be competitive.

Form: 41

Halpha Soleil¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 100| BF

11/1

Successful twice in French bumpers and came good over hurdles in a Sedgefield handicap on Boxing Day. However, shaped as if amiss when pulled up in a similar race there 12 days ago.

Form: 446-41P

Uno Mas¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Ellis Collier⁽⁷⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 97| C

33/1

Five-time winner in 2021 but very lightly raced since and has run poorly on his last 2 outings. Lots to prove.

Form: 14/4380

Forecasts

Herakles Westwood (9/4), Autumn Return (10/3), Hajey (9/2), Captain Potter (11/2), Halpha Soleil (11/1), Golfe Clair (14/1), Sambezi (14/1), Coral Blue (28/1), City Derby (33/1), Uno Mas (33/1), Iwa (100/1)

AUTUMN RETURN just had no answer to a rival with a superior turn of foot at 2m at Market Rasen 15 days ago and is taken to resume winning ways now stepping back up to a more suitable trip. Hajey has an excellent record over C&D and seems sure to go well again, with hat-trick seeker Herakles Westwood also of strong interest.