Racecards
14:20 Catterick
Come Racing New Year's Day Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £8,700 added
- Winner: £5,653
- 2nd: £1,660
- 3rd: £830
- 4th: £415
- Form F2B4-12
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Jake Greenall
towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 3rd
- Form 7510-10
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 130
held up in rear, rapid headway to lead 6th, headed 3 out, no extra from next
- Form 298-412
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer K G Reveley
- Jockey B S Hughes
chased leaders, effort after 3 out, led last, headed towards finish
- Form 718-315
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer C C Bealby
- Jockey T Messenger
led to 2nd, led again 4th, headed 3 out, weakened 3 out
- Form F5F-132
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey R McGrath
led 2nd to 4th, led 3 out, headed last, hard ridden to lead again towards finish
- Form 5664-44
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey J M Maguire
in touch, outpaced 4 out, kept on one pace from 2 out
In depth
Verdict
Only six runners in this but a tricky puzzle to solve nevertheless. Hexham winner Lightening Rod tried to make a race of it with Sprinter Sacre at Doncaster last time, despite conceding weight, and wasn't disgraced while L'Eldorado and Shadrack are both capable of making their presence felt again. Captain Paulie returns form a break, however, and Araucaria's jumping left a lot to be desired at Exeter and she may need more time. KINGS GREY hasn't done a lot wrong so far and travelled strongly for a long way when only beaten half-a-length by Quicuyo over further at Doncaster earlier this month. Down in trip again, he looks the one to beat.
Formwatch
Lightening Rod 6-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, went 3rd from 2nd, chased winner from 7th, kept on from 2 out, always well held, 2nd of 6, 24l behind Sprinter Sacre (10-10) at Doncaster 2m nov chs (4) gd.
Captain Paulie (IRE) 7-1fav (11-3) Tracked leaders on inner, 7th halfway, close 5th when jumped left two out, soon ridden and no extra, 10th of 25, 39l behind Oneeightofamile (11-8) at Punchestown 2m 4f cond hcp hdl 80-102 gd in May.
Kings Grey (IRE) 3-1fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, challenged 3 out, ridden to lead last, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Quicuyo (11-10) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs.
L'Eldorado (FR) 25-1 (11-2) With leader and clear, led 5th to 7th, lost place approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 50l behind Al Ferof (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grade 2 (1) gs in Nov.
Shadrack (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, ridden to lead before last, headed flat, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 4, shd behind Diamond Frontier (11-3) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs.
Araucaria (IRE) 4-9fav (11-0) Held up in touch and keen, jumped right 9th, ridden before 4 out, weakened from 3 out, 4th of 7, 27l behind Molly Round (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f mares nov ch (4) hvy.