CATTERICK THREE FOR FREE: PREVIEW & BETTING PICKS

CATTERICK THREE FOR FREE: PREVIEW & BETTING PICKS

The quality of horses that regularly turn up at Catterick is, let’s be honest, nothing to get carried away about. You’re not dealing with Grade 1 performers or future festival stars here. But that’s completely missing the point. You don’t need elite racing to make money from this game. In fact, tracks like Catterick often provide better betting opportunities precisely because the form isn’t fashionable and the markets aren’t as sharp.

If you’re genuinely interested in horse racing for profit, rather than entertainment or blind punting, then this is exactly the kind of card you should be analysing. I’ve also just released a new video on YouTube aimed squarely at sharpening your betting mindset and approach. If you’re here for the right reasons, I strongly suggest you check it out.

RIVERIA WALK should be competitive enough to nick a place, but I’d be very surprised if she actually won this. She’s limited and has shown nothing to suggest she’s suddenly going to find the required improvement.

FOUR DECADES, on the other hand, is at least from a yard in decent form. She’s improved with each run and her latest effort, an 8½-length 8th of 16 in a stronger contest, was perfectly respectable in the context of today’s race. She’s not exciting, but she’s functional.

I C U IN MY DREAMS did manage to win a point-to-point, but her bumper form left a lot to be desired. Meanwhile, in what looks like a search for an easier opportunity, A J Martin sends JO’S SECRET over from Ireland. Her bumper form was fair without screaming winner, and she doesn’t look thrown in.

For me, the one with the most upside is Jamie Snowden’s FLYING PIMPERNEL. If she settles and gets into a rhythm over her obstacles, the five-year-old should be bang there. At the prices, she makes the most appeal and looks a fair bet in a race of this nature.

The top three in the market all arrive here in good form, which at least gives the race a bit of depth. MARTY MCFLY has won back-to-back races, including a victory here last time out. However, that win came over further than today’s trip, and dropping back in distance could easily catch him out. This may well be a bit sharp for an eight-year-old who’s been thriving over longer.

SHADOWFAX OF ROHAN is a course-and-distance winner, having scored here last time out on his debut for Patrick Neville. Charlie Maggs retains the ride and the six-year-old gets in on a handy weight. He’s respected, especially given he receives weight from the other two principals.

That said, I’m siding with KELIJOE. The Stuart Edmunds-trained son of KONIG TURF looks the type to improve now switched to fences. The drop back in trip should suit him ideally, and conditions look spot on. There’s every reason to think he can take another step forward and justify favouritism.

On bare form, it’s easy to see why GABORIOT heads the market. Ten wins from 36 starts is solid, and prior to pulling up last time out, the ten-year-old finished a very credible second of 17 over the Aintree Grand National fences. That’s proper form in the book.

However, context is everything. He hasn’t actually won a race for 22 months, and today he’s giving weight to ZHIGULI. If this were a handicap, GABORIOT would be four pounds better off with the 120-rated 11-year-old, which tells you plenty.

ZHIGULI has won five of his 25 starts and, when last seen in a point-to-point, ran a strong race to finish third of 14. Racing prominently should play to his strengths, and the setup of this race looks ideal for a bold front-running effort. At the prices, I’m more than happy to take on the favourite with this former useful hurdler and chaser from the Thomas Easterby yard.

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