Seventh Race 8.30pm

THE MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ALL AT CCR HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 5)

for three yrs old and upwards x Total race value £10000 Owners Prize Money. 1st £4011, 2nd £2005, 3rd £1003, 4th £501, 5th £240, 6th £240. (Penalty Value £5076) Weights lowered 3lbs.

colours no horse age st- lb Draw

BETS AVAILABLE ON THIS RACE

CITY SELECTIONS BRAINS may be winless since last November, but recent displays have hinted at a return to form and reverting to his best trip of the mile could be just what the doctor ordered. He gets the vote ahead of Wadacre Grace, who has been runner-up on her last two starts, and Deep Sigh, who holds strong claims on her penultimate effort over C&D.

BRAINS Wadacre Grace

Leading course trainer (17-22): C & M Johnston (82 wins from 486 runners, 17%) runs WADACRE GRACE Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): J Butler (2 wins from 16 runners, 12%) runs BRAINS Weightwatcher: NASIM won off a handicap mark of 78, his rating is now down 9lb to 69. Longest Traveller: WADACRE GRACE trained by C & M Johnston, Middleham, 230 miles.

Br Breeding O Owner B Breeder J Jockey T Trainer S Sponsor

1 OLD NEWS (GB) (30) 240100 CD Br B g Dutch Art - Queen’s Charter O Mr P. G. Shorrock B Biddestone Stud Ltd 5 9-10 (7)

Cameron Noble J Linda Stubbs, Malton T Tote S TIMEFORMVIEW C&D winner. Latest win at Newcastle in September. Bit below form seventh of 13 in handicap (25/1) at Newcastle (7.1f) 30 days ago. Blinkers back on. Looks vulnerable. TFRHHIII BHA71 2 ROMAN DYNASTY (IRE) (34) 306000 4 9-10 (3)

Br B g Mehmas (IRE) - Empress Ella (IRE) O Trevor and Ruth Milner B Yeomanstown Lodge Stud

Jack Mitchell J Joseph Parr, Newmarket T Tote S TIMEFORM VIEW One win from 24 Flat runs. Twenty-three runs since last win in 2020. Tenth of 12 in handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f, 16/1) 34 days ago, slowly away. Others preferred. TFRHHIII BHA71

3 BRAINS (IRE) (19) 260005 CD BF Br B g Dandy Man (IRE) - Pure Jazz (IRE) O Power Geneva Ltd 6 9-10 (1)

Grace McEntee (3) J John Butler, Newmarket T

B Kilnamoragh Stud TIMEFORMVIEW C&D winner. Good fifth of 11 in handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f, 3/1) 19 days ago. Blinkers back on and should make his presence felt. TFRHHHII BHA71 4 LEGENDE D’ART (IRE) (42) 102140 C BF 5 9-9 (5)

Br B g Kingman - Legende Bleue O Dethrone Racing

Hayley Turner J Henry Spiller, Newmarket T B Dayton Investments Ltd CG Asset Management S TIMEFORM VIEW Course winner. Latest win at Yarmouth in May. 4/1, seventh of 11 in handicap at this course (7f) 42 days ago, not knocked about. Likely to find one or two too good. TFRHHHII BHA70 5 WADACRE GRACE (GB) (9) 103622 BF

Br B f Brazen Beau (AUS) - Glenreef O Wadacre Stud 3 9-7 (4)

Franny Norton J Charlie & Mark Johnston, Middleham T B Wadacre Stud Johnston Racing Ltd, 3CERT Limited S TIMEFORM VIEW Winner at Newcastle in September. Creditable second of 9 in handicap at Southwell (8.1f, 3/1) 9 days ago, having run of race. Obvious claims off the same mark. TFRHHHII BHA69

6 NASIM (GB) (14) 606600 D Br Ch g Galileo Gold - Ashwaq O The Horse Watchers 2 B Kirtlington Park Stud 3 9-7 (2)

Alistair Rawlinson J Michael Appleby, Oakham T Trade Access Panels Ltd S TIMEFORMVIEW 12/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, respectable eighth of 14 in handicap at this course (7f) 14 days ago. Visor on 1st time and will be a danger to all off this reduced mark if the new headgear has the desired effect. TFRHHHHH BHA69 7 DEEP SIGH (FR) (16) 245424 D 4 9-4 (6)

Br B f Muhaarar - Sospira O Tick Tock Partnership

Jamie Spencer J David Simcock, Newmarket T B Rabbah Bloodstock Limited Al Basti Equiworld S TIMEFORM VIEW 5/1, creditable fourth of 9 in handicap at Lingfield (8f, AW) 16 days ago, never nearer. Remains on a workable mark and she has to enter calculations. TFRHHHHI BHA65

DECLARED RUNNERS 7 2021: LE REVEUR (IRE) 4 9 5 Daniel Muscutt 7-2 (Mike Murphy) 11 ran Visor worn first time by No. 6. Blinkers worn by No. 1, 3. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No. 4. Stewards Note: ROMAN DYNASTY: Following its run on 11/11/2022 it was reported that the horse hung right handed late-on. BRAINS: Following its run on 26/11/2022 it was reported that the horse was hampered in the straight. LEGENDE D’ART: Following its run on 3/11/2022 it was reported that the horse was found to have bled.

Probable S.P’s: 11-4 Wadacre Grace (GB), 7-2 Brains (IRE), 4-1 Deep Sigh (FR), 13-2 Nasim (GB), 7-1 Legende d’Art (IRE), 18-1 Old News (GB), 22-1 Roman Dynasty (IRE)

PLAY SMARTER A chance is taken on NASIM, who has slipped to an attractive mark and he will have every chance if able to get back on track in a first-time visor. Deep Sigh is also feasibly treated and she is feared most ahead of Wadacre Grace, who has hit the crossbar the last twice and looks booked for another prominent showing. Brains is also in with a shout.

TIMEFORM PREDICTION: 1.NASIM 2.DEEP SIGH (FR) 3.WADACRE GRACE

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