4.15pm Catterick Tips & Betting Preview 11/05/2017

This is a long distance handicap over 2 miles, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: This is a poor handicap and there are several runners in this with serious questions to answer. The only horse in the field with any recent form to boast about is CAVALIERI. He evidently isn’t quite as good on the faster ground with no wins from seven attempts but, after the three withdrawals from the race, this is a weak enough affair and he still looks the best bet by some way. Lady Clitico will need the step up in trip to bring out some improvement to win but can follow the selection home.

1 KISUMU – Remains a maiden following 20 career starts and he has been pulled up on the last two occasions. Those efforts came over hurdles and he’s returned back to the flat today following a 97-day break so it’s hard to be enthusiastic about his chances. He was raised 3lbs for a couple of good efforts on the flat in the middle of last summer which leaves him with little in hand and today’s ground is of slight concern.

2 CAVALIERI – Arrives here on the back of a decent win at Redcar last month. He travelled beautifully that day and had the perfect trip into the race before drawing clear of a modest bunch to win by 1 3/4 lengths. The faster ground is a concern as he is without a win from 7 starts on Good to Firm ground but he has a little bit in hand at the weights still and his opponents are relatively weak so he maintains a very solid chance here.

3 LADY CLITICO – 2 wins from 37 career starts and the last of those victories came in June 2015. She’s steadily fallen down the weights over the past couple of years and she arrives here on the back of a modest effort over shorter last month. She’s been dropped 3lbs for that effort and she’s stepped up in trip today so there are reasons for a return to form today although the stable are without a winner from 13 runners here. She has to enter calculations today.

4 MIDNIGHT WARRIOR – Has finally fallen back to a winning mark having won off 54 last summer over 1m 6f. This ground and trip should be ideal for him and he’s likely to have needed his comeback run at Catterick last month in a tougher grade than this. Andrew Mullen retains the ride today and there are reasons to think he can get involved today having placed off a 3lb higher mark. One to watch closely in the betting.

5 DREAM SERENADE – Mick Appleby is the only one of today’s trainers to have sent out a winner in the past fortnight and his filly has a fair chance in this. She was fourth in a tougher handicap than this last month off a one pound higher mark and she will find life much easier against today’s opposition back down in grade. Her sole victory came off a mark of 49 on the sand so she has some questions to answer and she may be best watched here.

6 TONTO’S SPIRIT (non runner) – One of the only runners to arrive here with some recent form to his name. He completed a double over hurdles in the winter, scoring by 23 and 5 lengths respectively and he had no chance of success in a Class 2 handicap at Haydock just last month. He returns to the flat today off a 1lb lower mark than when last seen and he looks to have plenty in hand at the weights if he can translate his jumps form to the flat. The ground is a slight doubt having been beaten three times on the surface to date.

7 WAYSIDE MAGIC – 13-race maiden who has been beaten a long way in two starts for his new stable. They came on the sand over shorter than today’s trip so connections will be hopeful the 2 mile trip will bring about plenty of improvement out in him. He’s another with slight ground concerns having produced his limited best on a softer surface and all the headgear has been left off today. Best watched for a yard without a winner from 11 runners here.

8 DIZOARD (non runner) – Iain Jardine’s runner was well-beaten on his seasonal return to action but he almost certainly needed that run and he’s been dropped 3lbs to a basement mark of 45. He showed little over hurdles and on the flat in 2015 and having never featured in 2016, he’s obviously had some issues along the way but Nathan Evans claims 3lbs and he should strip fitter today so he’s worth keeping an eye on in the market.

9 MONZINO (Non-Runner)

10 ADRAKHAN – Yet to face Good to Firm ground in 21 career starts which is a major concern. His sole victory came over hurdles in 2015 and he’s been well-held in similar handicaps to todays over similar trips so it’s hard to see how he’s going to improve enough to score today. He’s had chances off this mark and slightly higher already and he’s best avoided here.

11 CRAKEHALL LAD – Andrew Crook is without a winner from 20 runners at Catterick and it would be a surprise to see his record improved today. His son of Manduro has been beaten a long way at Southwell on his two most recent starts although he had shown a tiny glimmer of hope back in January over 1m 4f. He’s best watched now switched back onto the turf and he has a huge amount to find on form.