Racecards
13:20 Catterick
W. L. And Hector Christie Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Form 426032
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 89
- Form 263422
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 83
Thunderclap
14- Form 737/048
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer P D Niven
- Jockey Richard Tierney
Lagosta (SAF)
619- Form 75295/0-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer G M Moore
- Jockey D C Costello
In depth
Verdict
Insurgent, Tolouse Express and Aviation look the three to concentrate on in this novices chase and the vote is given to Insurgent. The selection was a fair second behind Miss Pross last time out, that form looks rock solid and off the same mark here he will be hard to beat. Tolouse Express rates the main danger on his latest second behind Emerald Desztiny but he has had plenty of chances and is becomming hard to win with. Aviation would go close on his best form but he has been let down by his jumping of late so he can not be put forward with any confidence. Aztec Prince is another that could go well but the suspicion is he will be seen to better effect over a longer trip in time. Of the remainder Kalic d'Alm is game and consistent but is another that has jumping problems and for the winner we return to Insurgent.
Formwatch
Aviation 40-1 (10-6) Held up mid-division, outpaced 7th, 5th of 10, 18l behind Lennon (11-12) at Catterick 2m nov chs (3) gs in Dec.
Kalic d'Alm (FR) 15-2 (10-13) Led, headed briefly 4 out, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on until no extra flat, 4th of 6, 2 1/2l behind Terlan (11-4) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Toulouse Express (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Close up, chased winner approaching 3 out, outpaced next, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Emerald Destiny (10-3) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Insurgent (IRE) 7-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, hit 8th, disputed lead 4 out, every chance 2 out, ridden and no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Miss Pross (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Thunderclap 125-1 (10-9) Always behind, struggling halfway, 8th of 10, 34l behind Lennon (11-12) at Catterick 2m nov chs (3) gs in Dec.
Lagosta (SAF) 20-1 (11-10) In touch, lost place 7th, soon behind, tailed off from 3 out, 13th of 16, well behind Nifty Roy (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-90 (F) gd in May '05.
Aztec Prince (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Raced keenly, led 3rd, headed 8th, outpaced approaching 4 out, soon beaten, 4th of 5, 21l behind Regal Heights (10-13) at Newcastle 2m beg chs (4) sft.