Racecards
14:15 Catterick
Racing To School Novices' Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3)
- 3 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 51y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £13,500 added
- Winner: £7,352
- 2nd: £3,387
- 3rd: £1,693
- 4th: £848
- Form 223321
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey Jack Hogan
chased leader, pushed along and weakened approaching 6 out, mistake and unseated rider 5 out
- Form 4-65241
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer P Neville
- Jockey Henry Brooke
made all, jumped well throughout, increased tempo from 5 out, well clear 2 out, very easily
- Form 11P8-P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer A Watson
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
held up, not fluent 1st, pushed along and outpaced from 5 out, plugged on in distant 2nd thereafter
Verdict
STAG HORN, five-times a winner on the Flat and a Grade 2 winner over hurdles just over a year ago, receives weight from his two rivals on his chasing debut though has questions to answer after a poor run in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton last month. However, the 10lb he gets from Mortlach, five-times a winner over fences mainly in small fields like this, should be enough to make a successful chasing bow. Fusain only had one to beat at Newcastle but did it nicely enough.
Formwatch
Mortlach 11-10fav (11-9) Led until hit 1st and headed, led again after 3rd until 5th, not fluent 7th, challenged 5 out, led narrowly next, going best from 2 out, stayed on and well on top at the elbow, won at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gf in Feb beating Fast Buck (11-8) by 4 3/4l, 3 ran.
Fusain (FR) 6-5 (10-5) Jumped well, made all, 2 lengths clear 4 out, ridden to maintain advantage 3 out, 4 lengths clear 2 out, good jump last, stayed on well run-in, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (3) gd in Feb beating Arthur's Quay (11-2) by 7l, 2 ran.
Stag Horn 16-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, tracked leader 2nd until before 6th, weakened quickly tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.