16:30 Catterick

Saturday 8 June 2024

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:4018:10

ETS UK Limited 40th Anniversary Handicap

Off time: 16:33 | Winning time: 3m 0.17s

(4)

Achnamara^p⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: P A Kirby| OR: 69| D

25/1

28/1, made no impression when sixth of 7 in handicap at Doncaster (14.5f, good to firm) 7 days ago, very slowly away. Continues to fall in the weights without showing any sign of taking advantage.

Form: 209-586

(7)

Pons Aelius²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: F Norton| T: C Johnston| OR: 68

7/2

Eleven runs since last win in 2023. 9/2, ran much better than for a while returned to turf from an easing mark when third of 8 in handicap at this course (15.9f, good) 26 days ago. Chance if building on that.

Form: 49-7063

(8)

Gibside²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 68

11/2

Shaped encouragingly after 7 months off when eighth of 20 in handicap at York (11.8f, good, 33/1) 24 days ago. Has stepped forward markedly from his reappearance the last 2 seasons, so every chance he will be bang there back in a lower grade.

Form: 78256-8

(1)

Knights Affair⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 68

9/2

Ran up to best when second of 8 in handicap at Doncaster (11.9f, good, 9/1) 8 days ago. Still low mileage in handicaps and remains of interest from this sort of mark.

Form: 5573-42

(11)

Clear White Light^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: George Wood| T: A Keatley| OR: 67| C

9/2

Course winner in April. Ran creditably when sixth of 10 in handicap (9/1) at Chester (15.9f, soft) 2 weeks ago. Back down in trip and not discounted.

Form: 674-156

(3)

Gastronomy²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Phil Dennis| T: P A Kirby| OR: 67

13/2

Winner at Newcastle in April. Found run of good form coming to a halt back on turf when fourteenth of 20 in handicap at York (11.8f, good, 25/1) 24 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 45-2120

(9)

Weigh Anchor⁸⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: D C Costello| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 65

33/1

5/1, proved a let-down making her handicap debut after 5 months off when last of 6 in handicap hurdle at Fakenham (16f, good to soft) 3 months ago. Makes handicap debut on Flat and this presumably a pipe opener with a view to going back hurdling.

Form: 60/222-

(10)

Victoriano^b³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 62| D

22/1

Probably needed the run after 7 months off when seventh of 8 in handicap (40/1) at Thirsk (14f, soft) 5 weeks ago. Others look stronger.

Form: 35118-7

(6)

Myboymax^p,t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Aiden Brookes⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 58| C| D

14/1

Course winner. Thirteen runs since last win in 2022. 12/1, stepped up on his reappearance when fourth of 8 in handicap at this course (15.9f, good) 26 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Each-way claims.

Form: 9429-74

(5)

Lord Torranaga^p⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 8-11| J: Rowan Scott| T: P A Kirby| OR: 57| CD

10/1

15/8, made the most of a good opportunity to end a long losing run in 5-runner handicap at this C&D (soft) 8 days ago. Nudged up just 2 lb and may well feature if this doesn't come too soon.

Form: 224-531

(2)

Calevade^p⁸⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-5| J: J P Sullivan| T: B Haslam| OR: 51| C

22/1

Course winner. 17/2, turned in another woeful effort when last of 6 in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (16.8f, heavy) 3 months ago. This a rare Flat start and others make more appeal.

Form: 81441/0-

Forecasts

Pons Aelius (7/2), Knights Affair (9/2), Clear White Light (9/2), Gibside (11/2), Gastronomy (13/2), Lord Torranaga (10/1), Myboymax (14/1), Calevade (22/1), Victoriano (22/1), Achnamara (25/1), Weigh Anchor (33/1)

GIBSIDE shaped encouragingly after 7 months off when eighth at York last month and having stepped forward markedly from his reappearance the last couple of seasons, Tim Easterby's 5-y-o is fancied to notch career victory number 5 at the expense of Knights Affair, who is still low mileage in handicaps and ran up to his best when runner-up at Doncaster last week. Pons Aelius and recent C&D winner Lord Torranaga can fight out third spot.