2.50pm Catterick Tips & Betting Preview 08/03/2017

A field of six go to post for the second race of the day at Catterick, as we look to find the value in the race. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: The market suggests that this will be a slam dunk for Nomoreblackjack, who emphatically won his latest start over C&D and connections look to strike again while the iron is hot. He doesn’t however represent any sort of value and it looks to be worth going for BOSS DES MOTTES. Now 3lb below his winning mark over fences, he hasn’t necessarily been disgraced the last twice when just lacking a gear change and on that basis going up in trip may well suit, with his pedigree not ruling it out either. If back to anywhere near his best, he’d be competitive off this mark and may well represent some good value in this race for Henry Hogarth and Jamie Hamilton, who claims a further 3lb.

1 NINE ALTARS – Still unexposed over fences with only four runs under his best and he posted a career best on his penultimate start here in January (1m 7f, Good), narrowly going down by one and a quarter lengths. He wasn’t so good on his latest start at Carlisle a month ago (2m, Soft), but he may well bounce back from that and going up in trip should help eek out further improvement from him. One of the more likely types for Ann Hamilton with Brian Hughes taking the ride, so has to be respected.

2 BOSS DES MOTTES – Won at Worcester last summer when with Dan Skelton off a 3lb higher mark than today’s and he hasn’t necessarily been disgraced the last twice, just lacking a gear change at a crucial stage. On that basis going up in trip may well suit, with his pedigree not ruling it out and if back to anywhere near his best he’d be a dangerous one to discount for Henry Hogarth, with Jamie Hamilton claiming a further 3lb. He looks to represent some good value in this and looks a creditable threat to the short priced favourite.

3 BONNET’S VINO – Two wins from six starts over fences and gained her second win when causing a 22/1 surprise at Fakenham on her latest start start (2m 5f, Good to Soft). The form of that race is dubious though with only two finishers in a four runner race, and she has been raised 6lb as a result. If the form is representative, then a 6lb rise could be fair as she does remain with potential in this sphere, with a 7lb claimer effectively negating the claim. Risky but can’t be ignored fully.

4 LEANNA BAN – Out of form on both his runs this season for Tristan Davidson, well beaten at both Ayr and Newcastle after not showing a great deal on either run. Returns from a 102 day break today and will need to have benefited from that break greatly if he’s to be competitive against some in form rivals who are most likely more progressive. Looks risky and others have far more solid claims.

5 NOMOREBLACKJACK – Got off the mark emphatically on his latest start here over C&D, turning in a dominant front running display under today’s rider Danny Cook for Sue Smith, who remains in brilliant form at present. He has a 7lb penalty today but has identical conditions for today’s run, so has to be considered a likely winner of this if in the same vein of form again. He does perhaps face some sterner opposition this time around but producing anything close to that performance he could be a very hard nut to crack, especially if given an easy time of it out in front.

6 SHOULD I STAY – Solidly out of form for this new stable over hurdles this season and again failed to fire over fences at Market Rasen on his latest start (2m 7f, Soft), pulling up after four out, struggling from an early stage. Last win came in April 2014 over hurdles and he seems to have left his best days behind him; very hard to fancy for Alan Brown and Henry Brooke.