It’s Catterick Racecourse’s first of two race meetings held this month and today’s card hosts seven races; four over hurdles, two over fences and one bumper to conclude the afternoon’s sport.
Read on for a full preview of the Catterick card, courtesy of BOYLE Sports, who provide all the latest horse racing odds.
Up first we have an amateur jockeys’ handicap hurdle (12.15). With lots of good recent form on show here from the likes of Catterick specialist Bollin Neil and last-start winner Apieceovfortune, this is an open race. Rebecca Menzies’ Twoplacesatonetime must be considered, though, now back down to his last winning mark over a trip he is well proven to stay.
Next is a juvenile hurdle run over two miles (12.45). The key form here is a juvenile maiden hurdle at Musselburgh last month, which saw Keyboard, Bouboule and Arctic Voyage all finish close together behind the winner. The horse most likely to improve on that performance seems to be the former, whose trainer Adam Nichol is in very good form and could have the winner here.
Race three is a novices’ handicap chase over two miles and three furlongs (1.15). There should be a few chances among the eight runners but, with Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith’s yard in such good form at present, their runner Mr Mahler cannot be ignored. He is down a pound from running second of seven last time out and is effective over course and distance too.
A novices’ hurdle follows, run over two and a half miles (1.45). We have an Irish raider here in the shape of Gavin Cromwell’s Court Canyon, which is always a concern for British trainers, but this gelding gives weight to all of his rivals so could be beaten. With Rebecca Menzies having such a strong strike rate with maiden and novice hurdlers this term, her William Yeats must enter calculations after winning a bumper impressively last time out.
Race five is a mares’ handicap hurdle over the same trip (2.15). Micky Hammond’s Stellarmasterpiece loves the track here at Catterick both on the Flat and over hurdles, but is a better horse on the former code, so might be vulnerable today. Even despite another threat from a Gavin Cromwell-trained horse, Jessica Bedi’s Somebodycomegether is difficult to look past given her good recent form and five pounds from rider Aaron Anderson.
A two-mile handicap chase follows (2.45). Of all Gavin Cromwell’s runners at this track today, Toon Town looks to be his best chance. The eight-year-old has been performing well over in Ireland in three starts so far this term, but should find this easier and could be weighted to win, all while equipped with first time blinkers.
Last of all is a two-mile bumper (3.20). There is yet another Irish raider here, this time from the formidable stable of Willie Mullins. His horse, Clay Pigeons, is undoubtedly a promising sort and is already a bumper winner, but he might have quite the task getting past Donald McCain’s I C U In My Dreams. The mare won a very good point-to-point in the spring, the form of which has been very well franked, and she should be able to win this, given weight by the Irish gelding.
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Catterick selections – Tuesday:
12.15 – Twoplacesatonetime
12.45 – Keyboard
1.15 – Mr Mahler
1.45 – William Yeats
2.15 – Somebodycomegether
2.45 – Toon Town
3.15 – I C U In My Dreams
