15:00 Catterick

Thursday 24 May 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Millbry Hill Handicap

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 1m 14.81s

(2)

Araqeel²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lee| T: P T Midgley| OR: 70

10/1

A winner of a heavy ground 1m Listowel maiden for Dermot Weld in September 2016, he's been slow to progress since undergoing wind surgery for new connections this season but has fallen 9lb in the weights.

Form: 31/80-08

(9)

Tricky Dicky¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: S H James| T: Olly Williams| OR: 70| CD

9/2

Reliable over the winter months on Fibresand at Southwell (5f-6f), but hasn't won on turf since scoring at Redcar in October 2016 (6f soft). Handicap mark possibly high enough, but no issues whatsoever with Catterick (4,1,2,7,5).

Form: 22-2230

(6)

Rose Marmara^p,t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Cam Hardie| T: B Rothwell| OR: 68| D

12/1

Not won since June 2016, but does appreciate genuine fast ground and had a couple of near misses off higher marks under these conditions last season. Showed up well at Thirsk latest (5f gd/fm), so should be thereabouts.

Form: 2473-55

(1)

Geoff Potts²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 67| D

5/2

On a reasonable mark, but whilst fairly reliable overall, he just struggles to force his head to the front (1 from 16 on turf). Clearly best over this 6f trip, but ideally seems suited by good to soft ground.

Form: 437-374

(7)

Laughton¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 66

8/1

Very well-handicapped on his old form and showed the benefit of wind surgery at Wolverhampton in April; headed on the post by The Amber Fort (6f). Less convincing more latterly on easy ground but should relish this much sounder surface.

Form: 099-929

(4)

Indian Pursuit¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 64| CD

14/1

No doubting that this is his track (three-time C&D winner), so connections must be hopeful that the switch back here can lead to an upturn in fortunes. 1lb below his last winning mark.

Form: 110-500

(3)

Windforpower^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: D Tudhope| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 62| D

40/1

Rock-solid over 5f on Tapeta at Newcastle, and can pack a potent late punch. Not won on turf since May 2016, but with Gosforth Park currently fallow, he ran okay when finishing fourth over 5f here latest.

Form: 662144

(5)

Extrasolar^t⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: P Mulrennan| T: G A Harker| OR: 60| BF| D

10/3

Lost the race in the stewards room when edging out Spirit Of Wedza by a nose over C&D last week, and races off a mark which is 12lb lower than when beaten ½L by Meshardal in this contest in 2017.

Form: 006-0D6

(8)

Cupid's Arrow¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 59| CD

22/1

C&D winner in July 2017 (6f soft), but despite running consistently well overall here has failed to add to that sole career success. Has previous over C&D with Indian Pursuit (September 2017), but whilst his mark is fair, others are more convincing.

Form: 3035-00

Forecasts

Geoff Potts (5/2), Extrasolar (10/3), Tricky Dicky (9/2), Laughton (8/1), Araqeel (10/1), Rose Marmara (12/1), Indian Pursuit (14/1), Cupid's Arrow (22/1), Windforpower (40/1)

The Catterick regulars are out in force in a tricky looking sprint, with the likes of Indian Pursuit and Tricky Dicky always impossible to dismiss at this track, but that is not to say that others also don't have sporting claims, including the fast ground dependant pair Rose Mamara and the very well handicapped Laughton. However, EXTRASOLAR also saves his better efforts for Catterick (runner up in this race in 2017), so kept busy recently, he's tentatively taken to gain amends for his disqualification over C&D last week.