Wednesday 28th August
By SP2A Analysis
Catterick 4.25 - Handicap - Class 6 - 1 mile 6 furlongs - Good to Soft - 15 run
Lady Phoebe may be opposable upped in trip and Jamih, whilst a danger may now be at the ceiling of his handicap mark capabilities also upped in trip. Hidden Pearl is one who will welcome the rain but the handicap mark does look a bit on the high side with this one too,
That leaves me with a top 3 rated; CAN CAN GIRL; CASA LUNA and The Resdev Way. A slight niggle is their high draws but all can find a way to get cover and to use their stamina and all won't mind the ground. The Resdev Way has found his way to Mick Easterby and this veteran (horse and trainer) is likely to make a bold bid from the front here and if you want the 3rd option to enhance places he's the one.
I just feel he could succumb late on to CAN CAN GIRL who has won off a mark of 50, runs off 51 here and who will have no excuses stamina, going and handicap mark wise. CASA LUNA looks overpriced and is admittedly best on the AW but a Distance winner and a recent turf run with considerable promise means I'm happy to take a speculative punt off a basement mark of 46. (North)
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Worcester 6.40 - Handicap Hurdle - 2 miles 7 furlongs - 12 run - Good
Hillsin arrives with form figures of 2-1-1-2 but may be vulnerable now in this competitive field, Red Hugh and Kiss my Face have recently been impressive winners but penalised and the view that both had the absolute run of the race when winning suggests there may be something with value to test their mettle off the penalised marks.
Craven Bay is one to TRACK forwards, may still just need this run off a near 12 month break and at big Odds my 3rd top rated and therefore reserve if we have a non runner is Ballyvaughan Bay who won his penultimate race at 3 miles off a mark of 95, didn't cope with the twists and bumps of Stratford last time but may find this track much more to his liking off a mark of 101 and overpriced above 16/1
MAHLER MOON though reappears for the Skeltons and is likely to be ready and the Trainer and Jockey will be seeking every early advantage, however small, in the respective Title quests and this one could be a cut above the rest in terms of potential. NO WAY PEDRO has a win, a place when not properly ridden out and a poor run on last 3 Course and Distance starts, he was badly hampered though at the first last time on a day where you had to race prominently, and he was not given a hard time and saved after that mishap. He looks well handicapped still and back in professional hands could run well at a price that also looks generous (DT)
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