16:00 Catterick

Monday 10 February 2025

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:30

racingtv.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 4m 53.00s

Hajey¹¹³

25/1

Good record round here, notching second C&D success in 4-runner affair during 2023 Christmas period (also runner-up on 3 occasions over C&D). Left trailing on his reappearance at Sedgefield in October but given a break/wind op since and will be a threat if he puts his best foot forward.

Form: 61226-5

Cougar^v1¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 114

50/1

Twice a winner over hurdles for Padraig Roche in Ireland but hasn't shone for some time now, offering little on his debut for this yard last month. Hopes now pinned on the first-time visor helping to spark a revival.

Form: 80668P

Foster's Fortune⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny McMenamin| T: C Grant| OR: 114| BF

4/1

Successful twice and placed on 4 occasions from half-a-dozen starts since switched to handicaps. Turned over when a shade of odds on at Sedgefield (19.8f, good to soft) but lost little caste in defeat and looks nailed-on for another bold show, despite going up another 4 lb.

Form: 123212

Not A Light⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 113

3/1

Placed both starts between the flags (also placed sole run in a bumper for previous connections) and made it third time lucky over hurdles when taking a 2½m Hexham maiden (soft) following 2 years off in December. Mark for this handicap debut looks fair and there should be more to come.

Form: 33262/1

Final Edgar¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 105

10/3

Off the mark in a Sedgefield maiden this time last year and, following a couple of low-key runs over fences, he bounced back returned to this sphere when going close in a C&D handicap last month. Remains on an attractive mark up 2 lb and he has to be taken very seriously.

Form: 53-6P62

Saligo Bay¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 105

15/2

Runner-up final start for Gary & Joshua Moore at Plumpton in October and bettered previous efforts for this yard when recently finishing third of 9 in 16.8f Sedgefield handicap (heavy). However, he doesn't appear to be crying out for this step up in trip.

Form: 1F37-23

Achnamara^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 105| C

17/2

Fair handicapper on Flat and opened hurdles account in good style at Sedgefield (2½m, good to soft) on Boxing Day. 13 lb higher mark predictably proved beyond him over this C&D since and subsequent 1 lb drop unlikely to be helpful enough to see him make a meaningful impact in this contest.

Form: 6-62P17

Balcomie Breeze¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: G Boanas| OR: 103| C

7/1

Placed twice in bumpers and left previous hurdles form behind when decisively landing a 15.7f handicap here (good to soft) on first run following a wind op 10 days ago. Now 6 lb higher back up in trip in a tougher race but probably capable of better still given his low mileage.

Form: 8/P4061

Romeo Brown⁴⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 101

11/1

Long time without a win and hasn't fired yet this season, finishing well adrift of the second-placed Foster's Fortune when fifth of 6 at Sedgefield last time.

Form: PP-7775

Forecasts

Not A Light (3/1), Final Edgar (10/3), Foster's Fortune (4/1), Balcomie Breeze (7/1), Saligo Bay (15/2), Achnamara (17/2), Romeo Brown (11/1), Hajey (25/1), Cougar (50/1)

Cases can be readily made for several of these but the lightly-raced BALCOMIE BREEZE nevertheless stands out on account of his potential having landed a gamble in good style here recently. That was his first run following a wind op and, now that he has seemingly turned the corner, there could be plenty more to come from this 7-y-o. Final Edgar bounced back to form with a near-miss over C&D last time and he is just about feared most ahead of Not A Light and Foster's Fortune.