17:20 Catterick

Thursday 24 May 2018

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

Racing Again 1st June Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:21 | Winning time: 1m 0.32s

(11)

Compton River²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Harry Russell⁽¹⁰⁾| T: B Smart| OR: 57| CD

8/1

Races from a mark which is 2lb lower than at Wetherby last month (soft), but he's versatile in terms of underfoot conditions and did win over C&D on good to firm ground in August 2016; poorly drawn.

Form: 20735-4

(3)

Culloden¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁵⁾| T: S A Harris| OR: 57| D

3/1

Sits 4lb below his last winning mark (5f soft) but has kept solid form of late; beaten just under 2L latest when finishing fourth of 14 to Pearl Noir at Thirsk (5f gd/fm).

Form: 723434

(10)

First Excel^b¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Kevin Lundie⁽³⁾| T: S R Bowring| OR: 55

11/1

More effective over 6f on synthetics (4 from 9), but wasn't helped by racing alone (stands side) on his recent return to action at Thirsk latest. Should be sharper, but unhelpfully races from a wide berth.

Form: 06116-0

(4)

Kibaar^p¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 53| D

4/1

Rated in the mid 80's this time 12 months ago but struggled for previous trainer Kevin Ryan and yet to really pick up the baton for Ruth Carr (£10,000 purchase in September 2017).

Form: 000-057

(13)

Little Miss Lola¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Jamie Gormley| T: Miss L C Siddall| OR: 52| D

7/1

Won a fairly modest Class 6 5f AW handicap at Newcastle in November, and whilst racing competitively since hasn't proved to be capable of adding to that success. 0 from 10 on turf, and drawn wide in stall 13.

Form: 6162-35

(2)

Fyrecracker^p1¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Patrick Vaughan⁽³⁾| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 52

5/1

Steadily regressive since moving north and recent wind surgery hasn't had the desired effect just yet. Well treated on his form of old, but the cheek-pieces go on today with connections seemingly clutching at straws.

Form: 9608/8-7

(5)

Kingstreet Lady^b¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Jane Elliott| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 52| D

4/1

Beaten just ½L by Pearl Noir in first time blinkers at Thirsk latest (Culloden fourth) so must be considered off a similar mark, but wouldn't want to be dwelling at the start in what will be a fast and furious 5f dash.

Form: 314352

(12)

Spoken Words^p⁸⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: Harrison Shaw⁽³⁾| T: J Riches| OR: 45

66/1

Runner up at Wolverhampton on her penultimate start in February (5f), but 0/36 on turf and also drawn wide so couldn't be considered.

Form: 0-07920

(14)

Newgate Sioux^t²⁰²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Ben Robinson| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 45| D

50/1

Her sole career success came at big odds in a 5f Beverley claimer in September 2016, but she's shown precious little form since and needs plenty of help from the widest possible draw.

Form: 867097-

(8)

Thornaby Princess^p⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Sebastian Woods⁽³⁾| T: C J Teague| OR: 45| D

33/1

Consistent over 5f at Musselburgh during 2016 (2,4,1,3,1,5,8) but lacked much in the way of sparkle during the course of 2017 falling steadily down the weights, and also poor on both AW starts this year. Trainer saddles two other runners.

Form: 9348-00

(6)

On The High Tops⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 9-0| J: Paula Muir⁽³⁾| T: C J Teague| OR: 45| CD

80/1

Raced on just 16 occasions since scoring over C&D in August 2012 (good), so evidently has had issues. Comfortably beaten at Southwell (5f) in early April on his first start for almost 11 months.

Form: 09/039-7

(9)

Kirkby's Phantom¹³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: C J McGovern| T: A Berry| OR: 45

125/1

Ten race maiden who has started at odds of 200/1 or greater in six of her starts. Rated just 30, so to all intents and purposes holds no realistic chance.

Form: 06804-0

Non-Runners

(7)

Grandad Chunk²⁵

Weight: 9-0| Age: 7

T: C J Teague J: Jacob Mitchell

(1)

Roman Times¹²

Weight: 9-0| Age: 5

T: A Berry J: Faye McManoman

Forecasts

Culloden (3/1), Kingstreet Lady (4/1), Kibaar (4/1), Fyrecracker (5/1), Little Miss Lola (7/1), Compton River (8/1), First Excel (11/1), Grandad Chunk (25/1), Thornaby Princess (33/1), Newgate Sioux (50/1), Roman Times (50/1), Spoken Words (66/1), On The High Tops (80/1), Kirkby's Phantom (125/1)

A number of trainers are either doubly or triply represented, so this low grade handicap certainly isn't anywhere near as competitive as the numbers might suggest. A low draw is helpful, so with many of those in the line-up holding no obvious chance on form, the recent 5f Thirsk contest won by Pearl Noir holds plenty of clues. Culloden (fourth) could conceivably get the run on Kingstreet Lady (second) around this sharp track, but either way both horses should be on the premises at the finish. However, we'll take a slight chance and row in with the other Ruth Carr trained runner KIBAAR. He's well drawn in stall four, and worth a punt off his current mark in such a weak contest.