Race Time: 1.50pm Meeting: Catterick Day: Friday 5th February 2016 Full Race Name: Free Racedays With The Racegoers Club Novices Handicap Chase
Race Preview:
With an age range of five to nine this novice event covers all bases and a total of twenty-six pounds in ability between top weight and bottom so all to play for. Add three claiming jockeys and their allowances and things may not be quite as they seem this afternoon…….
1 Money For Nothing (7/1) – formerly with Alan King the seven year old has switched to Harriet Bethell with no success to date with a couple of Pulled Ups and pair of thirds. Slowly slipping down the weights, he ran well last time out in a first time tongue-tie for jockey Colm McCormack who claims three and if he can repeat that he comes here with a winning chance and seems worth and each way punt..
2 Casual Cavalier (6/1) – Makes his chasing debut this afternoon pitched straight in to a handicap which is interesting, though we note his best runs over hurdles were when wearing blinkers, which are absent today. Off the track for over a year now this ought to be asking a bit much but we will be watching him with interest for future reference.
3 Oscar O’Scar (9/2) – Another gelding making his chasing debut but with a likely fitness advantage after placing over hurdles at both Kelso and Wetherby on heavy ground. Drops back to two miles here on quicker going which may not be in his favour, but still looks likely to be a major player today.
4 Agentleman (7/1) – Ran his best race over fences last time out at Huntingdon when runner up to Sir Note and is still open to plenty of improvement after just the two runs over the larger obstacles. Consistent but still without a win, while the Tim Easterby yard could do with a few more winners.
5 Devon River (25/1) – Poor form over hurdles and switched to chasing far too quickly for our liking. Did win a small race on the all-weather at home in Hungary but no signs of success since in nine races and an obvious outsider today.
6 Bennylicious (7/1)– Yet to win after nine races in bumpers and hurdles but drops back to what could yet be his best trip here. Could be well in if he can repeat his ten length third to Smooth Stepper at Sedgefield but then that was over a year ago.
7 New Academy (14/1) – Must have had some issues to arrive here as an eight year old with just the seven races in three years and with some acceptable if unexceptional placed form at Sedgefield and Hexham (three times). An acceptable fourth on his return over hurdles after a year off, if he takes to fences he could yet be the surprise package today.
8 Bollin Line (7/1) – More experience in novice chases than most could help but looks pretty exposed and racing style suggests this trip will be way too sharp around here. Trained has only had one runner (and loser) in the last fortnight which doesn’t bode well.
9 Miss Conway (16/1) – Even a derisory rating of 82 looks too high for the daughter of Midnight Legend who was 24 lengths fifth to Kay Willow at Wetherby last May which still ranks as her closest ever finish. Unlikely to bother the judge today either.
10 Discoverie (9/1) – Seemed to take a quick dislike to fences when pulled up at Kelso and Cartmel after a good second to Just Awake on her debut over the larger obstacles. Switched back to hurdles since which suggests this is not his game – bottom weight for a reason.
Conclusion:
Not the best field ever assembled but that doesn’t mean its poor for punters! Money For Nothing (7/1 EW) could be appropriately named in our view and carries top weight thanks to his better efforts of the ten declared. The tongue-tie seemed to help last time and there is no reason to believe that a repeat of that effort won’t be enough to get him to the front this afternoon.