2.10pm Catterick Tips & Betting Preview 01/01/2017

Just a field of five go to post for this Class 4 novices’ hurdle at Catterick today worth £3,899 to the winner. Read on for our expert’s thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: THE BAY OAK was a good winner two starts ago at Sedgefield and escapes a penalty for this given it was for conditional riders. He showed considerable promise when second at Chepstow last time and land his second career win over hurdles today. Valadom found Grade 2 company too hot to handle last time out and will find these calmer waters but he doesn’t look at progressive as Dan Skelton’s charge and he can chase the likely favourite home.

1 Good Tradition – Flat/Hurdles winner when trained by Dermot Weld including on his last start at Kilbeggan (Good) in August. Two promising runs since switched to Donald McCain’s yard but has to bit to find with the likely favourite having gone up in the weights and best watched today.

2 Cave Top – Maiden after three runs and posted his best effort so far when third behind a 14/1 winner at Uttoxeter (Heavy) over 2m3f sixteen days ago. This is a much tougher assignment significantly up in trip today and hard to fancy for win purposes.

3 Crank Em Up- Won his sole start in a Point last year and scored on his third start in bumpers when a ready at Warwick (Soft) in April. Got off the mark on his fourth attempt over hurdles when landing an eight runner event at Uttoxeter yesterday. Claims if turning up in this.

4 The Bay Oak – Left his promising debut effort behind when a ready winner at Sedgefield last month and followed that up by filling the runner up spot again at Chepstow (Good/Soft) stepped up to 2m7f last time out. A strong traveller who should find conditions to suit and should be tough to beat having escaped a penalty for that win a conditional jockeys’ event.

5 Valadom – Has won up to Class 2 level but was well below form when only ninth of 11 at Doncaster (Good) in a Class 2 handicap chase won by No Duffer last time out over 2m7f. Reverts back to hurdles today having been pitched in at Grade 2 level on his only start over the smaller obstacles and likely to make a race of it against the likely favourite.