December 28 / 13.40 Catterick

13.40

Good

Enter ITV7 For Free Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3696.7
  • 1m 7f 145y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Enter ITV7 For Free Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

2/1 (Won)

Form: 943-44

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Not beaten far in any of his three chases, most recently when fourth of six at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft; first-time tongue-tie) last month; continues to edge down the weights and won't mind what the weather does here; ought to make his presence felt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

21st Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

14:15 Exeter

Guillaume

11st 3lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Only won over fences and he made it 0-10 over hurdles when beaten 12l at Kelso a month ago; however, was running fairly well in this discipline before that and certainly has each-way claims.

4/1

5th

8

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

17:30 Kelso

Guillaume

10st 12lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Chase winner who is 0-9 over hurdles but he went close over C&D in May and has been placed at Bangor (2m) and Stratford (2m2f) in his last three starts; usually races prominently and has each-way claims again back up in trip.

4/1

3rd

7

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 5

16:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Guillaume

11st 1lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Battled on well for second over C&D before a heavier defeat at Stratford, where again runner-up but beaten 11l; only 1-20 overall and vulnerable to horses on handier marks but one of the more solid contenders nonetheless.

3/1

Form: 064-70 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Yet to add to his Irish hurdle win in 2016 and has 0-28 strike-rate over fences; has plummeted down the weights over the last year or so but was well beaten over hurdles last month, after a break, and needs to prove some ability remains; seems versatile regarding ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

10th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

17:48 Sedgefield

Dakota Moirette

10st 11lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Andrew Crook

Still seeking first win over fences (0-30); runner-up at Catterick (2m, soft; beaten 9l) over Christmas, but perhaps found the extended 2m3f (here) overstretching stamina reserves latest; first start for three months; others tick more of the required boxes.

20/1

8

10th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

17:48 Sedgefield

Dakota Moirette

10st 11lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Andrew Crook

Still seeking first win over fences (0-30); runner-up at Catterick (2m, soft; beaten 9l) over Christmas, but perhaps found the extended 2m3f (here) overstretching stamina reserves latest; first start for three months; others tick more of the required boxes.

20/1

Form: U6-0PP

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Pulled up in two handicap hurdles last month (2m3f/2m5f) and has now been unplaced all six starts under rules; needs combination of drop back in trip and switch to fences to enable a transformation.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

25th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 25y

Class 5

15:15 Leicester

Nancy Till

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Max Young

Still a maiden and has the weakest form claims in this field; consequently easy to oppose.

33/1

9th

9

7th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

16:25 Bangor-on-Dee

Nancy Till

10st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: Max Young

Modest at best and fell last time on second chase start, after a year off; hooded once (2023) and now tries cheekpieces; 3lb out of the handicap.

50/1

OUR TIP

Form: -P8560

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Made a lot of the running here (2m3f, good to soft) on chasing debut nine days ago but was quickly swamped after slow jump at third-last fence and ended up well beaten; may benefit from today's drop back in trip but is back in action before a 4lb drop takes effect and clearly needs to improve.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

20:50 Hexham

Blue Bear

10st 8lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Ran well for a long way and seemed to have arrested his decline when fourth at Market Rasen (2m4f, good) last month but was soundly beaten over that C&D 11 days ago and now has questions to answer again; drops back in trip with hood removed after one use.

11/1

7th

8

8th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

16:52 Market Rasen

Blue Bear

10st 6lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Chase winner in early 2024; generally disappointing since returning from long absence this year but ran well for a long way before weakening into fourth in C&D (good) contest won by De Deli Counter last month and has possibilities if first-time hood helps him to settle better in early stages today.

5/1

4th

9

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

14:48 Market Rasen

Blue Bear

10st 9lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Won over fences in 2024 (2m1f, soft) but soundly beaten in a hurdle race and two chases since returning from long absence in February; very unexposed over this sort of trip but needs to turn a corner.

10/1

Form: 2-244P

Last run: 50 days

W: 10st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
18-race maiden; stuck to his task fairly well when fourth of six on chasing debut at Hexham (1m7f, soft) in October but never really looked dangerous there and was pulled up on his latest outing; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

26th Aug 2024

Soft

2m 1f 61y

Class 4

17:50 Cartmel

Coeur Aimant

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

23-race maiden; beaten 24l over hurdles here on Saturday; pulled up at Catterick in February when last seen over fences; a long way out of the handicap and others stronger.

25/1

8th

9

24th Aug 2024

Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

17:35 Cartmel

Coeur Aimant

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Lizzie Quinlan

22-race maiden; tried chasing to no avail earlier in the year; well beaten back over hurdles last twice; 4lb out of the handicap; others stronger.

50/1

10th

14

29th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

18:20 Cartmel

Coeur Aimant

10st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Second off lowly mark on heavy ground last summer but has not shown a great deal since and is 7lb out of the weights here; tongue-tie removed.

33/1

Form: 57324/

Last run: 676 days

W: 11st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
12-race maiden; went close off 3lb higher mark in this race in 2021 (soft ground) but absent since a lesser effort the following February and current ability is tricky to gauge.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

16th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 5

16:50 Perth

Claret Dabbler

10st 5lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford

17-race maiden; best effort since a lengthy absence was when second, trying to make all, at Kelso (2m1f, soft) in March; a repeat of that would give him a chance but recent form has been below par and he has it to prove over this far.

16/1

3rd

10

16th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 5

16:50 Perth

Claret Dabbler

10st 5lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford

17-race maiden; best effort since a lengthy absence was when second, trying to make all, at Kelso (2m1f, soft) in March; a repeat of that would give him a chance but recent form has been below par and he has it to prove over this far.

16/1

13

22nd Apr 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 133y

Class 4

14:30 Hexham

Claret Dabbler

10st 2lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford

Best effort this season when second at Kelso (2m1f, soft) two starts ago; only a modest fourth in lower grade since, taking record to 0-16; others have stronger claims.

14/1

Form: 09P-78

Last run: 34 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Not disgraced when eighth of 14 here (2m3f, good to soft) on last month's chasing debut; had wind surgery since; effectively 9lb lower today but still makes only limited appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:30 Cartmel

Halfway House Lad

10st 10lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

5lb out of the weights when romping home on recent stable debut at Hexham (3m, good); now 8lb higher and all wins have been gained at Newcastle or Hexham so still has some convincing to do around a sharp track.

15/8

1st

13

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Halfway House Lad

10st 2lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

Three chase wins for Maurice Barnes including over C&D in March 2025 (good to soft); well beaten last three starts; 5lb out of the handicap for stable debut.

16/1

6th

10

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

16:35 Newcastle

Halfway House Lad

10st 7lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Maurice Barnes

Won this race off a 4lb lower mark last season (Hawkseye View third); mixed form this season, but the drier ground will suit and has an each-way chance.

16/1

Non-runners

Saint Jaguen, Crews Pitch, Berliet Express

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £21.70
Tricast £292.03

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Guillaume

WEST COUNTRY:

Saint Jaguen

The Star:

Blue Bear

Daily Mail:

Crews Pitch

The Times:

Claret Dabbler

RP RATINGS:

Guillaume

POSTDATA:

Guillaume

Telegraph:

Guillaume

The Guardian:

Guillaume

D Express:

Guillaume

Daily Mirror:

Guillaume

The Sun:

Guillaume

Daily Record:

Guillaume