2.50pm Catterick Tips & Betting Preview 13/12/2016

Only six line up for this handicap chase over the minimum trip here today with £4,549 up for grabs. Read on for our experts’ thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: This looks all about Kenneth Slacks’ DISCOVERIE who is a prolific winner in this sphere and should follow up his four-length win over Mitcd recently and dispatch these with the minimum of fuss. Witness is probably best of the rest and can chase him home now dropped in grade.

1 Oscatara – Last win came at Perth (Good/Soft) last April when an easy winner of a three-runner Handicap chase. Pulled up next time out then off for a year he ran up to his best when a decent second at Uttoxeter in a class 4 handicap chase over this trip. On a decent enough mark but pulled up and last in two runs since he looks up against it here with the favourite even on best chasing form. Yard beginning to come back to form.

2 Witness – Hurdle/Chase winner in France and pulled up when making British debut for Micky Hammond at Sedgefield when something looked amiss. Fair runs in a couple of class 3 races since and should go well dropped in grade here. Has a lot to find on form with the market leader though.

3 Discoverie – Clearly thrives at Sedgefield with four wins there over 2m and an extended 2m with six wins there overall. Only other career win came here in March over this trip on heavy ground and, on a lower hurdles mark, he managed to score by four lengths over Mitcd back at Sedgefield last month after notching up a hat-trick at the start of the Summer. Back over fences here and on a career-high mark but he still looks progressive at this level and he should be difficult to beat for his in-form yard.

4 Minella Forfitness – Fair chaser at best and hasn’t won since landing a class 3 at Bangor (Good/Soft) last March. Couple of moderate runs recently in this grade and pulled up on last start at Bangor last month. Needs to find a lot with Discoverie and hard to fancy even on best form.

5 Chestnut Ben – Was poor on his final chase start at Market Rasen (Good/Soft) last term and has begun this season in the same vein with mediocre performances at both Wetherby and Sandown albeit in slightly better races. Dropped in grade but without a win in nine runs and seems to save it for Musselburgh these days.

6 Money For Nothing – Kayf Tara gelding who is still a maiden after nineteen runs having previously been trained by Harriet Bethell. Patchy form at best and well-held in third in a class 5 at Southwell (Heavy) on last start. Best watched on debut for new yard.