2.35pm Catterick Tips & Betting Preview 10/10/2017

2.35pm Catterick tips for Tuesday’s Class 3 race. Despite only five going to post, this looks like a very competitive contest with several big yards represented. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis.

IN SUMMARY: The one to beat here is Mark Johnston’s VENTURA KNIGHT who put up a good performance in Class 2 company when last seen off a huge weight and now drops back into Class 3 company. He’s on the same mark as his latest performance and now has De Sousa back onboard, which makes him very hard to pass in conditions that will suit. El Chapo beat Poet’s Dawn over course and distance two weeks ago and those two are likely to fight out the minor honours once again.

1 VENTURA KNIGHT – Has won three of his nine starts, returning to form with a third at Doncaster in a Class 2 race when last seen. He now drops in class which will be a huge help and he goes on softer ground, so he should be very tough to beat under De Sousa.

2 POET’S DAWN – Has finished second on his last two starts, going down by a neck at Ripon when last seen after racing keenly early. He’s now up a further four pounds and also goes up in class, so is further down the list today, despite Rachel Richardson taking off three pounds again.

3 CHE BELLA – Dispatched El Chapo by three lengths at Thirsk last month, but the handicapper slammed him with a ten pond rise and he was well held at Pontefract three weeks later. She meets El Chapo on three pound worse terms and could struggle to keep him behind on this occasion.

4 EL CHAPO – Course and distance winner who beat Poet’s Dawn by half a length at Catterick last month, now five pounds higher. He remains unexposed though and couldn’t be discounted for second with any confidence as he’ll relish this ground.

5 STAR OF ZAAM – Drawn wide when only a neck behind El Chapo and Poet’s Dawn at Catterick when last seen, three pounds higher here. He goes well in softer ground, but he’s yet to convince that this trip is his optimum, with work to do with Ventura Knight on previous form. Best watched here.