It's a day to savour at Catterick gents. I see it as a favourites day tomorrow. Not many punting opportunities because of that but I will be on four in some kind of multiple. All of which will be short prices. Akarshan Hidden Justice (as tipped up by yours truly at 14/1 on debut a few weeks ago) Marie Des Anges Midnight Minx
I need a winner. Last Friday was the last one I gave this forum and better is expected of me. It's a good job then that I have one tomorrow in the form of CATEGORICAL 11-2 3.55 Catterick the last time he won was nearly two years ago off a mark of 125 but whilst he is in the veteran category I do not believe he is too much in decline. His campaign this season has all been over 3 miles....too far.....way too far. Back over 2m 3f tomorrow and eased to a tasty 114 he has to be truly smashed into. If this isnt a plot then I'm a Dutchman!
You have my seal of approval stick old boy. I've already backed him. Reveley's are devastating at Catterick
Left you a message elsewhere Bob, where is your namesake going to appear at the Festival, heaps of money for him to win the NH chase!
Has anyone heard or read anything about mono man? I have been waiting forever for him to run. I see he is still entered in the supreme but would surely have to come out soon if he is to run in that.
Same here Hawk, thought he looked a serious contender in novice hurdles last year before scuppered by injury. Interesting that he holds entries- maybe he is back on the gallops now.
I remember him beating oscara dara quite easil, and that hasn't done much wrong since. Lets hope he's back working.
I bet we don't see Mono Man for another year minimum. Stick - I've been watching that market for a while now. He was 4's. don't understand it at all. If he runs there it's just a matter of whether he stays.
I have been given another in this race from a close friend of Tony Dobbin. Ross Castle apparently won't be beaten. But I see Categorical has been backed from 8's to 5 on Bet365. Good luck
I have been given another in this race from a close friend of Tony Dobbin. Ross Castle apparently won't be beaten. But I see Categorical has been backed from 8's to 5 on Bet365. Good luck
1:00 Lingfield: Bet Noir 16/1 Not the sort of race to go mad on, but a speculative pound might be a fun watch on Bet Noir. By Kings Best, and runner up in low grade hurdles, it is an utter disgrce that the horse has been campaigned at distances below a mile and a half for so long until LTO when ridden by a claimer. David Probert is the addition to the saddle today and it looks to me like they have messed the horse around for a bit and will plan a gamble sooner or later. Upped to 2m on the flat today, he ought to at least enjoy the trip more and I think looks an outsider to keep tabs on today. He was never put into contention LTO and would never be competitive over 8-10f. He has always looked more of a stayer and can show some marked improvement.
I need a winner. Last Friday was the last one I gave this forum Nobody grudges you the ODD loser stick but cmon son get the finger out, its not like you are the Master of Glesga tipping even money - jailcase losers Please both take the spirit of comments in the jest they are meant!
Lingfield Spellmaker 4-1 This horse trained by Tony Newcombe has been entered and taken out of about 4 races in the last 3 weeks, if it is allowed to run today I fully expect it to give a good account of itself.
4.20 Lingfield Maslak 20/1 I'm not a big fan of backing horses in these Amateur Riders races but I think the 20/1 about Maslak looks big given he was successful in this race off a 4lb higher mark last year and who I'm hoping can bounce out and make all to score in this event for the 2nd year running. Although Peter Hiatt's charge came into this race last year in vastly different circumstances, Maslak comes here having recently had a reappearance run on the back of a 9 month absence which I am hoping has put on him spot on for this. Looking at his form last year coming into this race, Maslak was in very good form having put a string of very good efforts together with this corresponding contest his 2nd win in three starts. Last year, Maslak bounced out from his wide draw in stall 12 to get to the front and under an enterprising ride he was kicked clear a few lengths clear turning around the home turn and he was all out to just about hold on by a neck from his nearest rival. The 3rd Kames Park solidified the form by narrowly going down on his next start and it was a fine effort to score off a mark of 59. That was as good as it got for this 9 year old last year although he did run a good 2L beaten 3rd off a mark of 63 last April and he certainly looked in need of a break on the back of a string of poor efforts last summer. After his long absence, Maslak reappeared over tomorrows C+D where I thought he ran pretty well for a long way despite finishing last and it certainly looked a very good blow out for him which hopefully has blown away all the cobwebs and I'm hoping that this has been his target for quite a while. Tomorrow Maslak is ridden by Miss Michelle Eden who takes off 7lb and who is 0-10 in her career and she is clearly a young jockey plying her trade. Despite not having a winner to date, I think Maslak should be the perfect sort of ride for her given I find its far more advantageous to be on a horse that bounces out in front in these contests and Miss Eden's best ride to date probably came when getting nabbed close home when attempting to make all in a contest at Pontefract last year. Maslak has been given what I feel is the ideal draw in stall 1 which should hopefully allow Miss Eden to break quickly and attack from the front. Although Peter Hiatt isn't in the greatest form at the moment, he had his first winner for a few months at the start of January and has had a couple more placed horses recently. Given that Hiatt also owns this admirable veteran, the fact he has given the ride to Miss Eden leads me to believe that he certainly has faith in her ability and I think there is a good chance he has targeted this race again to hopefully reward her with her first ever winner. Although you can't have too hefty a wager in events of these nature, I'm hopeful of a big run from Maslak who looks well handicapped being 8lb below a solid 3rd last year and 4lb below scoring in this contest last year and if his recent reappearance has put him spot on for this then fingers crossed he can see off his rivals from the front and win this for the 2nd year running at a nice price.
****, Categorical caught my eye too, was going to back it but sticks comments have put me off now, can never be that confident about an old bad bad, slow animal. might just wait for Pique Sous but I might not seen as ive just backed Categorical at 5/1 with Paddies, opened 8s with them...... dirty plodder caught my eye for no reason whatsoever, not even looked at the race but its stickwise, so i can probably lay it off at 9/4 tomorrow, which I wont because im not a bottler, but if it wins, which it probably wont, i wont be thanking stick, because I fell upon it myself.
Better expected? You can only do your best, shocking that you feel pressure from the forum to pick a winner. If I felt pressure like that I would need to go see a doctor with the amount of losers I put up! One I like today, but too short price, AP and JP should have a good day and go onto better things with their novice hurdler.
