15:30 Catterick

Monday 12 February 2024

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:00

Best Odds Guaranteed At Vickers.Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:32 | Winning time: 4m 3.30s

For Pleasure^t⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 122| D

5/2

Free-going front runner who is 2-2 for new yard, just holding on at Fontwell on Boxing Day. Grade 2 winner in his younger days so still well treated and could be hard to peg back around here.

Form: VP9511

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Milldam^h,t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 119| D

7/2

Returned to winning ways in 2m Ffos Las handicap in the mud in December and not disgraced in tougher race over further at Wetherby since. Same mark but will relish testing conditions back down in trip.

Form: 149-514

The Churchill Lad^h²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 119| BF| CD

4/1

Juvenile hurdle winner at Cartmel and over C&D last season and struck again in 2m Haydock handicap in the mud in December. Too free at Kelso last time and hood goes back on.

Form: 75-7213

Moonlight Glory¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 116| D

15/2

Has had a good season already, undoubtedly aided by such a strong pace around the minimum trip when scoring at Sedgefield (17f, heavy) under this rider recently. 4 lb rise demands more but she'll probably get a similar scenario here.

Form: 501521

Carrarea^t¹²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Edward Austin⁽⁵⁾| T: H McMahon| OR: 115| D

80/1

Dual bumper winner for Emmet Mullins and again over hurdles at Market Rasen (2m) for Mark Walford early last season. Sold cheaply and work to do starting out for new yard.

Form: 23-1150

El Jefe^h,t⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁵⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 104

3/1

Better than ever this season, completing a hat-trick in handicap hurdles under this rider. Shaped as if still in top form from an 8 lb higher mark at Carlisle last week, arguably making his effort earlier than ideal. This is tougher again but he can't be dismissed.

Form: 231114

Very Excellent³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 104

16/1

Tricky to catch right but one of his better efforts when second over C&D last month, leading briefly run-in and not beaten far. This is tougher.

Form: 6P6-262

Non-Runners

Holly³⁴

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Forecasts

For Pleasure (5/2), Holly (11/4), El Jefe (3/1), Milldam (7/2), The Churchill Lad (4/1), Moonlight Glory (15/2), Very Excellent (16/1), Carrarea (80/1)

A good contest that can go to FOR PLEASURE. Still well-handicapped on his 2020 Grade 2-winning form, he's 2-2 for Olly Murphy and has been given a break since his Fontwell victory on Boxing Day. Holly and Moonlight Glory were also both successful last time and are feared.