14:38 Catterick

Sunday 28 December 2025

All12:1812:5313:2814:0314:3815:13

Sky Bet Club Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:43 | Winning time: 6m 33.42s

Slaney Opera^t²¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 100

8/1

Pulled up on Hexham hunter debut in 2024 but notched 3 point wins last winter and made his second hunter start a winning one when seeing off 7 rivals in maiden at Kelso (23.5f, good) in April. Outclassed at Stratford a month later and now switched to a handicap having joined new yard.

Form: 3F111-3

Rostello²⁷⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Luke Scott⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 100

66/1

Not the most reliable and was unable to get his head in front last term. May need this outing back from 9-month absence minus headgear.

Form: P752P4-

Similar Story^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Alan Doyle⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 100

25/1

Made a winning chasing debut at Kelso last October but has a mixed record since and she unseated her rider in 2m4f Carlisle handicap chase on her reappearance. Soon done with at Newcastle latest.

Form: 9P33-U9

I See The Sea³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Jack Power⁽⁵⁾| T: C N Kellett| OR: 99| CD

7/2

Improved with blinkers fitted in March, winning over 25f at Wincanton before a solid second at Hexham 7 days later. Well held on return/debut for new yard but much more like it since, landing 7-runner C&D handicap last month. Big player nudged up 2 lb.

Form: 612-631

Redbridge Rambler^v⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Freddie Keighley⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 99

5/1

Followed breakthrough success in this sphere at Chepstow in March with a string of below-par efforts. However, back on track with creditable placed efforts at Ludlow and Hereford the last twice and he's a live candidate.

Form: 14-P423

Judicial Review^t,b⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: James Moffatt| OR: 94| D

28/1

Hasn't always been the most reliable but not easy to pass when he's in the mood, as he showed when forging clear in 7-runner handicap at Cartmel in August. Needs some motivating and was labouring quite early at Ayr latest.

Form: 61P21P

King Of Cong^p¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: S England| OR: 93

14/1

Ex-Irish who posted his best effort over fences when second at Hexham last month, responding well to first-time headgear and worn down only by a stronger stayer. Backward step returned to that venue 3 weeks ago and now goes up in trip.

Form: 60P243

Scottish King²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: R J Armson| OR: 91

11/1

Failed to build on maiden/novice hurdle promise switched to handicaps last term, but good start in this sphere when runner-up on return at Uttoxeter (3m, good to soft) in October. Departed before the race began in earnest at Sedgefield last time and should be on the premises granted a clear round.

Form: 66P-25F

Ballydangan⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Peter Kavanagh| T: H Burns| OR: 85

33/1

Didn't show much for Dan Skelton, but in fine form for his current yard, winning twice over 3m at Hexham. Shaped as though still in good form from just out of the weights back there last time and he's back on his correct mark here.

Form: 3-31314

Valence D'Aumont^p³³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: Danny McMenamin| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 81| BF| C

10/3

Capitalised on a reduced mark with a game display at this venue (19.2f) in January. Mixed record since but looks ready for another crack at this sort of trip. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 153-035

Mersey Street^p¹⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Benjamin Macey⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 80

9/2

Fakenham winner over hurdles in January his sole success. Encouraging third of 13 on chase debut in July but in nothing like the same form at Newton Abbot since.

Form: 5P-4435

Halfway House Lad^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Ross Chapman| T: M A Barnes| OR: 78

16/1

Won back-to-back handicaps over fences in March. Recent efforts respectable but remains 4 lb above his last winning mark.

Form: U2P435

Derracrin³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Shane Fenelon⁽⁵⁾| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 74

40/1

Below last winning mark but failed to build on mild promise of his Hexham runs at Musselburgh last month.

Form: 66-8U44

Sputnik^p¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 72

25/1

Tumbled in the weights and took a step back in the right direction when second in a C&D handicap last month. Ran badly over hurdles back here last time, though.

Form: 87P-52P

Non-Runners

Stonegate²²

Weight: 10-2| Age: 6

T: B Rothwell J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Valence D'Aumont (10/3), I See The Sea (7/2), Mersey Street (9/2), Redbridge Rambler (5/1), Slaney Opera (8/1), Scottish King (11/1), King Of Cong (14/1), Halfway House Lad (16/1), Sputnik (25/1), Similar Story (25/1), Judicial Review (28/1), Ballydangan (33/1), Derracrin (40/1), Rostello (66/1), Stonegate (100/1)

I SEE THE SEA stuck to his task really well when landing a C&D contest a month ago and a 2 lb rise won't prevent a very bold follow-up bid. Redbridge Rambler and Ballydangan are just a couple of potential threats.