Wednesday 24th August

 

The Sprints and handicaps at Catterick today look very trappy and over the shorter distances especially likely to be draw biased and I can't find anything to be confident about. However, this opener looks to have given the opportunity for a small punt on a couple at nice speculative prices.

 

At the top end of the market the money for Valley Of Flowers, Turner Girl and Whitcliffe is understandable and all have chances and a bit of scope about them to improve especially upped in trip in a few instances. At the prices though I can't split them nor see any each way value. 

 

Of the more exposed types Eye Knee for Tim Eastberby is out of form at the moment but does have some decent form here at Catterick and returns for the first time this season. It may revive and is below its last winning mark but I'd be looking for something like 10/1 for an each way bet and the 5/1 is too short. IF it's a drifter to a silly price I may have a quid each way on it near the off.

 

The pair I really like though are EMBOLDEN and O'REILLY PASS

 

EMBOLDEN is based on a Distance win and the fact it's lightly raced again this season but clearly has some ability and after a recent run is below it's win mark and jumps off the page a little at me. It's definitely worth a small punt in a poor quality race. O'REILLYS PASS is a 28 race Maiden who has led me down the garden path a few times but who is capable of placing at decent Odds. It's once again worthy of some each way shrapnel

 

 

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A similar type of race to the one at Catterick earlier in the those at the head of the market have decent claims but none are bomb-proof so I'm happy to take on Joie De Vivre, Reams Of Love and My Little Toni, who on handicap debut for the McCain yard may be the biggest danger.

 

A couple jump off the page at nice Odds.

 

MAJOR SNUGFIT has won off marks up to 89, knows how to win and comes from an upwardly mobile and in form Yard. Its off a mark of 92 but I think capable and most solid of the exposed form.

 

STRONG TEAM is a Course and Distance winner, won this corresponding race last year before winning again and placing before suffering off a mark it couldn't handle and coming back down the ratings as a result. Its an inconsistent type but with the Course form and a win here off 79 and subsequently off 82 and a place off 89 before the loss of form, it looks to be very tempting again off a mark of 76 and well worth an investment.