17:30 Catterick

Friday 1 June 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:5517:3018:05

Racing Again 9th June Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 1m 14.49s

(8)

Mr Skinnylegs³⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: T Eaves| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 55| BF

5/2

Lightly raced for Brian Ellison finishing runner up in a 5f Thirsk seller (good to firm) in April 2017 before being a beaten favourite on his next two starts. Off since June 2017, but now with a new trainer. Market helpful.

Form: 6/0245-

(5)

Amherst Rock^t²⁰⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Connor Beasley| T: L McJannet| OR: 54

25/1

Poor for previous trainer John Butler, and moved on for just £5,500 in November 2016. Evidently had some training issues and no show in two starts for this trainer last back-end.

Form: 970/90-

(9)

Fyrecracker^b1⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: P Makin| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 52| D

17/2

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 first time blinkers now get an airing after a similar experiment with cheek-pieces failed.

Form: 608/8-77

(6)

Mitchum²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: Jane Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: R E Barr| OR: 50| D

9/1

Grand sort who appreciates some give underfoot, so will be hoping that rain arrives. Not so sharp latest, but was a winner over 5½f at Wetherby (good to soft) on his penultimate start and races off a 4lb higher mark here.

Form: 6847-17

(7)

Kachess¹⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: D Loughnane| OR: 48

5/2

On a downward spiral for well over 12 months now, and hasn't really fired since her juvenile days. This trainer couldn't find the key to her on synthetics over the winter, but back on turf and down in trip from a career low mark.

Form: 88087-7

(4)

Deben²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: J R Weymes| OR: 47| C| D

7/1

Doesn't win all that often but is well suited by this track (6f to 7f), being a three-time runner up over C&D last summer; and from a 3lb higher mark. Rain wouldn't inconvenience and his turn will be coming.

Form: 310489

(2)

The Hoppings²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: S H James| T: J J Davies| OR: 54

14/1

Held little chance in three starts in novice company (100/1+), but equally hasn't shown any signs of promise so is tough to fancy on handicap debut at even a realistic level.

Form: 86-6

(1)

Grandad Chunk³³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: G Lee| T: C J Teague| OR: 45

40/1

13-race maiden who has offered precious little in the way of encouragement to suggest that'll be changing anytime soon.

Form: 88-4785

(11)

Little Poem^p1¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 53

33/1

Showed limited promise in three starts for Marco Botti as a juvenile (7f), and made her debut for this trainer (66/1) here recently (7f). Goes handicapping for the first time from a tough draw and a lowly mark in newly applied cheek-pieces.

Form: 365-8

(3)

Balmec¹⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 50

16/1

Offered little in four starts so far, but in fairness was out of his depth in novice events at odds ranging from 40/1 to 100/1. Back from a five plus month break and off down the handicap route.

Form: 7760-

(10)

Westfield Wonder^b1²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁵⁾| T: Ronald Thompson| OR: 48

20/1

Had 11 previous attempts to shed the maiden tag, often not beating too many rivals home. Drops back to 6f for the first time since August 2017 and this coincides with the fitting of blinkers.

Form: 65-5390

Non-Runners

(12)

Optimickstickhill¹²

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: S Dixon J: Theodore Ladd

Forecasts

Mr Skinnylegs (5/2), Kachess (5/2), Deben (7/1), Fyrecracker (17/2), Mitchum (9/1), Optimickstickhill (12/1), The Hoppings (14/1), Balmec (16/1), Westfield Wonder (20/1), Amherst Rock (25/1), Little Poem (33/1), Grandad Chunk (40/1)

Mr Skinnylegs kicks off his career for James Ewart from his satellite base in Middleham back from a fast approaching 12 month absence, but looks to be one to monitor closely for market support in a fairly modest heat. Kachess has shown nothing since switched to David Loughnane, but she now resides on a very appealing mark if the switch back to turf provides a spark, but we'll elect for the Catterick regular DEBEN who is well drawn in stall number four and can be relied upon to run his usual solid race at this track whatever the underfoot conditions.