3.00pm Catterick Tips & Betting Preview 04/10/2016

An intriguing contest from Catterick in which a case can be made for all of the field. Our race preview breaks the race down along with our experts’ betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: A small field for this valuable nursery but a competitive one and our tip is for an Each Way value bet on MASHAM STAR. Behind Top Score in Turkey last time out, he ran a good race that day but didn’t have the finishing turn of foot for the trip, so stepping him up in trip looks a sensible option with a big weight pull compared to that day. Whatsthemessage is the least exposed and should run well at a short price.

1 TOP SCORE – Godolphin horses have hit fine form in the last couple of weeks around the globe and continued with two wins and two seconds on Monday. Carrying top weight, Top Score will need to improve on his Turkish Group 3 second to win here but could well be more to come over this extra furlong based on David Probert’s comments after his Ripon win. Short in the market given unknowns over the ground and vulnerable to a horse carrying less weight.

Replay of Waneta winning Trakya Koşusus – Top Score 2nd, Masham Star 4th (Turkish commentary)

2 MASHAM STAR – Also competed in the same Turkish Group 3 as Top Score, finishing 4th – 3 lengths behind Top Score. Ran well that day but didn’t quite have the same toe as the front two despite looking promising at one stage. Has a British rating 8lb lower than the favourite here and finished 4th off 87 in a valuable York handicap at big odds, and while he hasn’t raced on Soft ground before he’s apparently shown potential as a seven furlong horse at home and he’s good odds to run a big race with 2 places Each Way available.

3 WHATSTHEMESSAGE – Impressive debut winner despite being hampered at Ayr in August, and followed that up with a Class 2 third at the same course over a mile. She didn’t settle last time out which is a worry and had the advantage of being well drawn, and the lack of races compared to the other main rivals could be seen as both a positive or a negative. Mark appears fair but drop back in trip isn’t certain to suit and stable has a poor record with 2 year olds here (3 wins from 24 runners in the last 5 seasons)

4 IN FIRST PLACE – Still a maiden after 8 starts despite finishing 2nd third times, his price dropped from 56,000 guineas as a foal to 30,000 guineas a yearling. He was slowly away in a Class 2 at Ayr last time out and remains off a reasonable mark but even if the step up in trip unlocks further ability he’ll struggle in this company.

5 SIR VIKTOR – Won a weak Beverley Maiden Auction in August 2010 to get off the mark but was well beaten in his only handicap start and hasn’t shown enough ability to suggest he can win off a mark of 74.

myracing Forecast Prices: 13/8 Whatsthemessage, 9/4 Top Score, 9/2 In First Place, 5/1  Masham Star, 12/1 Sir Viktor