Hi all,
My first selections since Saturday and I’ve had a look at an intriguing eight runner Vickers.Bet North Yorkshire Grand Handicap at Catterick.
Catterick
2:30 – Vickers.Bet North Yorkshire Grand National Handicap Chase
The going description at Catterick is soft. I live about 35 miles to the south of the racecourse and there’s been a steady drizzle here so the drying trend may have been reversed. I was thinking yesterday that it may be closer to good to soft but if the racecourse has had the same drizzle, it could well be as being described.
Bushypark made all to win last year’s from 5lb lower. However, it was heavy ground 12 months ago and he showcased his talents for the most testing of conditions when making all over hurdles at Haydock last month.
Court At Slip, No Cruise Yet and Glittering Love finished first, third and fifth respectively in a Newcastle handicap chase (heavy) 28 days ago. Court At Slip is 4lb higher here but he’s progressive and seems ground versatile. I would have the 7-year-old as favourite although his stamina for 3m 6f must be proven.
No Cruise Yet is handicapped to dead heat with Court At Slip at the revised weights. He will appreciate the drying ground and the return to 3m 6f.
Glittering Love was beaten 11 ½ lengths by Court At Slip at Newcastle but he’s down to a good mark and should be spot on fitness wise.
Previous course winner Ladronne is on a losing run that goes back to November 2022. However, he’s consistent enough and is 1lb below his last winning mark. Stamina to prove but Sean Quinlan 4-14, 7 placed on the 10-year-old is back in the saddle for the first time this season.
Track And Trace and Shadow’s In The Sky add intrigue to the race as both have just had two starts in handicap chases. Track And Trace was beaten a short head at Carlisle (3m 2f) last time. He shaped like a stayer last time and is unexposed over fences. Shadow’s In The Sky improved plenty for his chase debut when a 2 ½ length 3rd of 11 at Musselburgh 24 days ago. He looks likely to improve again for a stamina test and has each way claims, but this is a better race than last time.
Finally, we have Crixus’s Escape. The 11-year-old is inconsistent these days but was back to winning ways here (3m 1f) 14 days ago. He’s 8lb higher in a deeper race but remains well handicapped on the best of his old form.
Verdict: No Cruise Yet has clear claims if the ground continues to dry out. Ladronne is handicapped to go close if his stamina holds. The progressive Court At Slip seems reasonably priced at 6/1 or bigger and could improve for the step up to today’s marathon trip. I wouldn’t normally go for two in a race with less than 10 runners but on this occasion I have decided to dutch Court At Slip and Ladronne.
Court At Slip – 1pt win – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Ladronne – 1pt win – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John