First Race 2.05pm

THE BETFRED MERRY CHRISTMAS HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 6)

for three yrs old and upwards x Total race value £7000 Owners Prize Money. 1st £2731, 2nd £1365, 3rd £683, 4th £341, 5th £240, 6th £240. (Penalty Value £3456)

colours no horse age st- lb Draw

BETS AVAILABLE ON THIS RACE

CITY SELECTIONS VITESSE DU SON justified strong market support when winning at Wolverhampton recently and Alice Haynes’ charge could take all the beating under a 5lb penalty. Lake Sand is a C&D winner and he demands the utmost respect, along with Eagle Eyed Freddie, whose consistency ought to bode well in a race of this nature. Nick Vedder has shown more in recent starts and he should not be underestimated either.

VITESSE DU SON

Lake Sand Leading course trainer (17-22): M Appleby (76 wins from 636 runners, 12%) runs EAGLE EYED FREDDIE Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): R Brisland (3 wins from 20 runners, 15%) runs BOMBASTIC & NICK VEDDER Longest Traveller: FAST FLO trained by C Dunnett, Norwich, 149 miles.

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

1 VITESSE DU SON (GB) (5) 236221 D

5 9-13 (in 5lb ex) (7)

Br B g Fast Company (IRE) - Sister Guru O Scuderia Di Vincitori and partner

Mark Crehan (3) J Alice Haynes, Newmarket T B D. R. Tucker Alice Haynes Racing S TIMEFORM VIEW Career best when winning 10-runner handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f, 6/4) 5 days ago, pushed out. More needed again under a penalty. TFRHHHHI BHA54 2 EAGLE EYED FREDDIE (GB) (7) 002233 D

Br B g Gleneagles (IRE) - Spice Trail O Mr Edward Foster B Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd 4 9-10 (1)

Erika Parkinson (5) J Michael Appleby, Oakham T Trade Access Panels Ltd S TIMEFORM VIEW Good third of 9 in handicap at Wolverhampton (9.5f, 13/2) 7 days ago. Not taken lightly. TFRHHHHI BHA56

3 SUNSET IN PARIS (IRE) (17) 6/6-60 4 9-6 (11)

Br B g Camelot - Trail of Tears (IRE) O Mr B. Dowling Jason Hart J J. R. Jenkins, Royston T

B Camas Park, Lynch Bages & Summerhill TIMEFORM VIEW Lightly-raced maiden. 125/1, eleventh of 12 in handicap at Kempton (8f) 17 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals. TFRHIIII BHA52 4 NICK VEDDER (GB) (8) 600033 D

Br B g Rip Van Winkle (IRE) - Devotion (IRE) O Wackey Racers Harefield B Petches Farm Ltd 8 9-6 (2)

David Probert J Robyn Brisland, Stockbridge T

TIMEFORM VIEW Twenty runs since last win in 2021. 12/1, creditable third of 9 in handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 8 days ago, conceding first run. Shortlist material. TFRHHHHH BHA52 5 LAKE SAND (IRE) (30) 436404 CD 5 9-5 (4)

Br B g Footstepsinthesand - Lake Louise (IRE) O Laurence Bellman

Luke Morris J Ali Stronge, Eastbury T B Danny O’Sullivan Topspec Equine Ltd S TIMEFORM VIEW C&D winner. 9/1, creditable fourth of 12 in handicap at this C&D 30 days ago, nearest finish. Can give a good account. TFRHHHII BHA51 6 BOMBASTIC (IRE) (28) 000500 D

Br Ch g Raven’s Pass (USA) - Star of The West O Cross Channel Racing Club 7 9-3 (8)

William Carson J Robyn Brisland, Stockbridge T

B Mr D. A. Farrington TIMEFORM VIEW 18/1, eighth of 9 in handicap at Lingfield (7f, AW) 28 days ago. TFRHHIII BHA49

7 HEER’S SADIE (GB) (5) 550635

Br B f Heeraat (IRE) - Sadiigah O Mr John W Ford B Mr J. W. Ford 4 9-0 (6)

Sam Feilden (7) J Julia Feilden, Newmarket T Vaillant UK S TIMEFORMVIEWOnewinfrom21Flatruns.Fourteenrunssincelastwinin2021.Fifthof8inhandicap(6/1)atLingfield (8f, AW) 5 days ago. Respected. TFRHHHHI BHA46

Br B g Elzaam (AUS) - Blondie’s Esteem (IRE) O The Win Or Booze Racing Syndicate B Mr Brian Gallivan TIMEFORM VIEW 33/1 and visored for 1st time, seventh of 9 in handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 8 days ago. TFRHHIII BHA42

9 JAZZ MUSIC (GB) (9) 00000-0 5 9-0 (5)

Br B m Muhaarar - Propel (IRE) Cam Hardie J

O Mrs Lyndsey Shaw

Derek Shaw, Sproxton T B Fairway Thoroughbreds Oakley Garden Buildings Ltd S TIMEFORM VIEW 100/1, seventh of 12 in handicap at this course (7f) 9 days ago. Difficult ask. TFRHIIII BHA38

10 THE CHARMER (IRE) (49) 430000 D 3 8-13 (10)

Br Ch g Dandy Man (IRE) - Charmgoer (USA) Darragh Keenan J

O Mr Jim Gill

Mike Murphy & Michael Keady, Westoning T B Ian Fitzpatrick Old Palace Lodge S TIMEFORM VIEW Tenth of 11 in handicap (66/1) at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 49 days ago. Rejoined yard after leaving Derek Shaw. Cheekpieces back on. Others more persuasive. TFRHIIII BHA45 11 FAST FLO (GB) (8) 006-000 3 8-13 (9)

Br B f Garswood - College Doll O HSWHO Syndicate

Stefano Cherchi J Christine Dunnett, Norwich T B Mrs Christine Dunnett Christine Dunnett Racing S TIMEFORM VIEW Ninth of 14 in handicap at Southwell (7.1f, 100/1) 8 days ago. Easy to look elsewhere. TFRHIIII BHA45

DECLARED RUNNERS 11

2021:NO CORRESPONDING RACE LAST YEAR Visor worn by No. 8. Tongue Strap worn by No. 2, 10. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No. 1, 2, 10. Stewards Note: LAKE SAND: Following its run on 17/11/2022 it was reported that the horse hung left handed.

Probable S.P’s: 15-8 Vitesse du Son (GB), 7-2 Eagle Eyed Freddie (GB), 6-1 Nick Vedder (GB), 8-1 Lake Sand (IRE), 17-2 Heer’s Sadie (GB), 20-1 Bombastic (IRE), 33-1 Saxonhill (IRE), 100-1 Fast Flo (GB), 150-1 The Charmer (IRE), 250-1 Sunset In Paris (IRE), 300-1 Jazz Music (GB)

PLAY SMARTER NICK VEDDER could be ready to end his losing run off his reduced mark given how he shaped at Wolverhampton last week. Eagle Eyed Freddie continues to hold his form well and rates the main threat ahead of Heer’s Sadie.

TIMEFORM PREDICTION: 1.NICK VEDDER 2.EAGLE EYED FREDDIE 3.HEER’S SADIE

Position of Stalls

6f - Centre Remainder - Inside