13:15 Catterick

Tuesday 16 December 2025

All12:1512:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:20

Support The Injured Jockeys Fund Novices' Handicap Chase

4YO plus | Class 5 | 2m 3f 51y | 8 Runners | Turf

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 100

Improved to readily make a winning start for this yard in 2½m Musselburgh handicap hurdle off this last week. A second outing in a quick succession after an absence is a slight concern but a point background suggests he should take to fences.

Form: 5042-1

Bataillon³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Callum Pritchard⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 100

11/2

Fair maiden hurdler. Off 18 months, probably needed the outing when well-held sixth in 3m Ffos Las handicap on reappearance. Should be sharper now switching to fences. The sole runner on the card for his Somerset stable.

Form: 26P2/2-6

Bridge Court^t,p1³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny McMenamin| T: A M Thomson| OR: 96

20/1

Reached the frame in maiden/novice hurdles last autumn but has struggled in 3 handicaps since, including last month's Kelso reappearance. A switch to fences needs to have a positive effect (placed in point at start of career). Also has first-time cheekpieces added to a tongue tie.

Form: 0/43PP-6

Defence Witness^t,p¹⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: S England| OR: 91| BF| C

11/2

Off the mark in this sphere ot Cartmel (21f) in May. Not in quite same form when fifth of 8 over 25f there the following month and off since.

Form: 6438-15

Kuriosa^t,p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: Annabelle Sowray| OR: 88

50/1

Poor maiden hurdler for Paul Nolan in Ireland and struggled in points prior to finishing well held in Sedgefield handicap on chase debut 11 days ago. Can only be watched.

Form: 5/PPP8-6

Mr Mahler³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Peter Kavanagh| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 80| BF

11/4

Still to get his head in front but he comes here in decent nick, finishing 14 lengths second of 7 at Market Rasen (21.4f, good to soft) 33 days ago. Place claims again for his in-form stable.

Form: 342-442

Annie Don^t1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: R T Dunne| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 74

20/1

Maiden hurdler/chaser who continues to offer little. A first-time tongue tie needs to have a positive effect.

Form: 563-797

Great Ballinboris^b,t¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: B S Hughes| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 73

10/1

Maiden hurdler/chaser who took a step back in the right direction after a breathing operation when second at Carlisle in April but has underperformed in his 2 outings this season.

Form: 6362-5P

Forecasts

Passing Pleasure (11/10), Mr Mahler (7/2), Defence Witness (5/1), Bataillon (7/1), Great Ballinboris (12/1), Bridge Court (20/1), Annie Don (33/1), Kuriosa (50/1)

A race which essentially revolves around PASSING PLEASURE, who won comfortably from this mark over hurdles for his new yard last week and should go in again if translating that form to fences (has a point background). Fellow chase newcomer Bataillon is a rare runner up here for his West Country yard and he might provide the main threat ahead of Mr Mahler.