It’s Catterick Racecourse’s penultimate Flat meeting on Saturday, with the eight-race card unusually getting underway in the morning. The racing from Champions Day at Ascot in the afternoon will be shown on-course too, but not before Catterick’s six handicaps – including the Catterick Dash – a maiden and a novice have taken centre stage.
Read on for a full preview of the Catterick card, courtesy of Boyle Sports, who provide all the latest horse racing betting.
We begin with an apprentice handicap run over a mile and six furlongs (10.30). Catterick specialist Bollin Neil, trained by Tim Easterby, might be in luck, having been put up in the weights by four pounds since a course win two weeks ago, but he is given eight pounds by his claiming rider and carries the least weight here by some way. Harry Eustace’s Trapper John may also have come down to a tempting mark now and could go well up in trip for the first time.
Next is a seven-furlong maiden for two-year-olds (11.00). Most of the 10 runners are unraced newcomers, while the best of those with form appears to be Ed Dunlop’s Sierra Sands at present. The son of Sands Of Mali placed on debut at Leicester, but he might be vulnerable to well-related debutants from prominent stables. Ed Walker’s Eagle Bay travels a long way from Lambourn to run here and, representing a yard seeing plenty of success with juveniles, he could be the main danger.
Race three is a six-furlong novice (11.28). Jim Goldie’s Approaching Dawn is the only newcomer in the field of nine, but he is the sort who is likely to improve over time with a greater distance to travel. Much could be expected of Savannah Grey who, in the notable Lady Bamford colours, was a very expensive breezer from a winner-producing family. Trainer Ollie Sangster’s stable are going well and she should take a step forward from a very green debut. Pension Pot might get the better of her though, with better ground than his promising debut at Redcar.
The fourth race is a mile and a half handicap (11.56). Aajej could be interesting on his handicap debut, having shown some ability in maiden and novice company. Mafting was only beaten a head last time on the same mark as he starts on today, which could work for him here, while Ralph Beckett’s Thosewerethedays could have a chance too, down a pound from last time.
A seven-furlong handicap follows (12.23). Wreck it Ryley and Mudamer both won their last starts, the latter having done so at this track on soft ground. If the going description remains to be officially Good, then David O’Meara’s In A Hurry would be worth giving some serious thought to. She stays on the same mark as her last three runs today and could just be right at the weights this time under David Nolan.
Division two of the same race is next (12.50). David and Nicola Barron’s Ahamoment seeks a hat-trick here, having won his last two starts by large margins on much softer ground than we have today. Given the firmer surface, it’s easy to look past him and favour others, such as Cliffcake, who looks to have come far enough down the handicap to win this today under Darragh Keenan.
The penultimate race is a good quality five-furlong sprint handicap (1.20). Mark Walford’s Kodiac Thriller is equipped with cheekpieces for the first time today and, if they have the desired effect, he could be a big player now down to a more workable mark and with five-pounds from claiming rider Rhys Elliott in hand. Jennie Candlish’s Rosenpur is a type who does well up in class and down in the weights, so he looks a tempting option, also given three pounds by his rider.
Last of all is the six-furlong Veterans’ Handicap, open to horses aged six and older (1.55). Mick Appleby’s Lipsink could pick up at least a place after winning on the all-weather last time out at Kempton, given a useful five pounds by claiming rider Jack Dace, while Ruth Carr’s consistent Alligator Alley is also now back on a workable mark and could have all the conditions he needs here to win.
Catterick selections – Saturday:
- 10.30 – Bollin Neil
- 11.00 – Eagle Bay
- 11.28 – Pension Pot
- 11.56 – Mafting
- 12.23 – In A Hurry
- 12.50 – Cliffcake
- 1.20 – Rosenpur
- 1.55 – Alligator Alley
