16:10 Catterick

Saturday 22 September 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:50

Bapp Group Of Companies Handicap

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 2m 40.83s

(3)

Star Of The East⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 98| D

5/2

The class act in this field and went close over this sort of trip at Doncaster (good) last time, from the same mark. Not ground dependent, 3lb claim will help and he could have a big say despite conceding significant amounts of weight.

Form: 416182

(4)

New Society²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: J D Bethell| OR: 83| CD

6/1

Dual winner over this trip this season, including over C&D. Acts on any ground with good in the description (has been taken out when described as 'soft'). 1lb higher than a 1¾L defeat over 2m at Chester last time, so more needed.

Form: 113062

(5)

Question Of Faith¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-2| J: A Mullen| T: M Todhunter| OR: 76| C

9/1

Dual winner here over 1m6f/2m and acts on any ground. 4lb higher than when scoring here last time in an amateur event. Not written off, but trip might see her tapped for toe.

Form: 523141

(7)

Ad Libitum^p¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: P Mathers| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 79| D

16/1

Wants fast ground to be seen to best effect. 2lb higher than when a 1L second here over C&D last month. Disappointed on unsuitably soft ground last time. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 152520

(2)

Snookered^p¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-0| J: Kieran Schofield⁽⁷⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 69

5/1

Would be very interesting if any rain gets into the ground. Beaten 1L from 8lb lower over C&D (good to soft) in April. Scored at Carlisle (1m3f, soft) last time. Up 9lb for that career-best effort, so 7lb now claimed. Enters calculations.

Form: 954331

(6)

India^h²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: D Fentiman| T: M L W Bell| OR: 76| CD

7/4

Dual C&D winner from her last three starts, winning decisively first time and then by 1L from Ad Libitum (now 6lb worse off with him) last month. Up another 8lb, so more needed. Unraced on ground slower than good.

Form: 724121

(1)

Mr Sundowner^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-0| J: Robert Dodsworth⁽⁷⁾| T: W Storey| OR: 65| CD

40/1

Sprang a 16-1 surprise in this race last year (good to soft), when 5lb lower. Well below that form throughout this season and hard to fancy at present, despite being well treated on that old form.

Form: 3-77578

Forecasts

India (7/4), Star Of The East (5/2), Snookered (5/1), New Society (6/1), Question Of Faith (9/1), Ad Libitum (16/1), Mr Sundowner (40/1)

A decent prize for the track and it could be that STAR OF THE EAST can outclass his rivals. Jane Elliott's 3lb claim will be a help and he stays well, so she may be able to make plenty of use of him, while he won't mind what happens with the ground. New Society is respected, though a bigger danger may come from Snookered if the rains arrive. India is not written off, but a 8lb rise may be enough to stop her recording a third C&D win of the season.