Thursday 24th May 2018

3.35 Catterick

Some top yards represented here including the in-form Michael Bell. Neverbeen To Paris runs under a penalty and is 1lb well in after a decisive victory at Beverley - he must hold an excellent chance of following up. Poetic Steps showed much improvement for the step up to this trip last time out and is also a live contender.  Sir Michael Stoute is 3 from 7 over the past 5 seasons at Catterick so that puts Braemar in the mix, though he has gone up 7lbs without winning since the start of the season. The strong claims of those runners will hopefully make Arthenia a nice price.  She has run well in defeat on both of her starts this season and I think this daughter of Camelot has a race in her this season. She has raced in two good races this season and she is just starting to get the hang of things.

A Camelot filly costing 50,000 GNS. Arthenia was very green in the early stages of a strong novice race at Newbury on debut, staying on well in the final two furlongs. She produced a decent run in a good juvenile race on her third start after being very slowly away. There is stamina in the family so Arthenia will be well suited by a step up in trip. The first two in her third race are both now rated 94, which suggests she is starting life on a lenient mark.

1 pt win ARTHENIA (15/2 Betfair Sportsbook)

4.55 Goodwood

I am a little surprised to see Gather in a maiden first time up this season given she already qualifies for handicaps, but she is a filly I’ve been really looking forward to seeing as a three-year-old and she should improve for the step up in trip. I hope she doesn’t ruin her handicap mark! Sacred Path is nicely bred but this could be sharp enough first time out.

Juddmonte bred, out of a Dansili mare, who is one of the best dam sires. Gather was pitched into a class two maiden on debut where she wasn’t disgraced. She then ran two solid races on the all-weather, which have both worked out well. On her second start, she was a clear second, beaten four lengths by a horse giving her three lbs, who is now rated 99. She was beaten less than a length on her third start. The fourth has since won, putting up an RPR of 86 in the process and the 6^th horse in the race (beaten over 8 lengths by Gather) has won since and now rated 80. This suggests Gather is well handicapped off 79. Her dam was unraced at two and has produced some nice 9-10f horses. I’m not sure exactly what trip she wants but I think she’s currently very well handicapped and ought to pick up some decent prizes as a three-year-old.

1 pt win GATHER (3/1 Bet365)

7.05 Sandown

Three horses I put up at the start of the season run in what looks a really good race. Without Parole is short but looks very smart – he gave Ostilio 7 lbs and a 6 length beating last time. Ostilio then went and won a handicap off 84, going up 6 lbs in the process. This could be a stepping-stone to Royal Ascot.  I don’t think 6/1 for the St James’ Palace is too bad given not much from the 2000 guineas looks likely to go for the race. Stephensons Rocket has lots of ability but must learn to settle better; once he does he may be better over 10f. Fast ground will be in his favour at Sandown, however. Glendevon is the one I’d be most inclined to backing each-way (33/1 Bet365, Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook). I was so impressed with him when he won second time out. I think he was badly in need of the run at Chelmsford last time where he was narrowly beaten by two race-fit rivals having run from a poor draw.

Glendevon (Richard Hughes)

Sire – Scat Daddy. Dam – Flip Flop

For me, this was probably the most impressive winner of a novice race over the winter. On debut, Glendevon was very green and keen throughout before staying on very strongly into second, pulling clear of the rest of the field and given quite an easy ride in doing so. On second start he made all, really kicking clear about a furlong and a half out with a very impressive stride length. He destroyed some quite useful horses in behind. The second won next time and will begin in handicap company off a mark of 90. I hope this horse runs the Craven Stakes before going onto the 2000 Guineas (currently 33/1) if handling Newmarket.

Stephensons Rocket

Green out of the stalls and a little keen on debut. Looked to have the race won but ran green in front and outpaced before being beaten by a more experienced rival at Sandown. He didn’t have to improve to go one better at Redcar next time, though he was quite keen again. He showed a good attitude at Redcar, pulling further away from the field the further he went. The form of that win could be questionable but Stephensons Rocket is a big scopey colt who should be competitive in top mile and half handicaps this season or even group races if he learns to settle. He hasn’t been given a mark yet but a best guess would be mid 80s.

Without Parole (John Gosden)

Sire – Frankel. Dam – Without You Babe

Hard not to be impressed by the manner of his victory on debut at Newcastle, but it is important to remember he was getting 4lbs from the second and third horses. He is a half-brother to Tamarkuz and could be absolutely anything, however, I may have raised expectations of this one after his trainer sent Enable to win at Newcastle on her debut.