17:15 Well that's it from an interesting afternoon's racing here at Catterick. A combination of easy winners and some cracking finishes, not not mention some disappointing favourites.
Our next live coverage will be from Warwick on Friday.
From Catterick good night.
17:05 Another one for judge Alastair Stewart with a bobbing finish as the first and second favourites Fistral and Mister Fizzbomb were locked together in the final half furlong with Fistral literally getting his nose in front in the very last stride.
Funky Town set the pace with Intervac Boy tracking him. Mister Fizzbomb was happy to settle in third place whilst the eventual winner was happy to settle nearer last than first. Bolin Freddie was also with the pace.
Jalamid who missed the break badly did rally briefly to flatter.
Two out the principles slipped the field with Mister Fizzbomb having the advantage of the rail.
Bollin Freddie was six lengths back in third with Cecina Marina running on well to take fourth.
16:50 I am going to stop mentioning the weather - every time I do it changes. It's clouding over again.
Although I can't complain as looking at the TV pictures of the (lack of) action at Wimbledon it seems we are better of than "down South" - which I where I will be driving towards in about an hour from now.
16:35 A delightful winner in the second of out 6 furlong sprints, as Tawzeea ended a relatively lean spell for the Mark Johnston yard with a very impressive win.
Dark Champion under Paul Hanagan set the pace but Joe Fanning on the winner was keen to keep the leader in his sights, drawing alongside two out and running on impressively to win by 2¾ lengths.
Seta Pura was running on well at the end just denying the front running Dark Champion second place.
The disappointment of the race was the favourite Hotham who was anything but hot. Never settling he just did not want to be here. He briefly flattered to deceive briefly running into third before the turn for home – but that was it.
16:20 A quick weather update, the clouds are breaking and the sun is out - a lovely afternoon in fact.
16:05 This one was definitely not one for the punters as the short priced favourite, Kyzer Chief, ran no sort of race after tracking the leaders for the first couple of furlongs then fading in the home straight.
The pace was set by Jamie Spencer on Lavande, accompanied by the oddly named Dubai To Barnsley. The leader quickly faded a furlong out, leaving the running on Naias in the lead.
However the inside rail was left free allowing Mujahope under Kelly Harrison to have a free run, taking the lead inside the final 200 yards and running on well to the line. It was a good run from Harrison as her mount had been on his toes going down. Rather than expend too much energy she was happy to cover her mount up towards the rear, only making a move once running for home.
It was an eye catching performance from the winner. Naias held on for second with Dubai To Barnsley taking third.
15:35 After a couple of rather unexciting finishes it was all change in the third with a four way go as they crossed the line.
The pace was set by Nuit Sombre and a good pace it was too. Joshua’s Gold and Gap Princess were happy to keep him company. Sticking limpet like to the rail Nuit Sombre certainly took the shortest route turning for home whilst the eventual winner, Gap Princess, took the turn quite wide.
Coming for home Nuit Sombre stuck to the rail and looked the likely winner, however Gap Princess was plugging on well, as was the favourite Hiccups, whilst Joshua’s Gold started back peddling.
However none was finishing better than Countdown who was launched with a blistering run down the centre of the course. Undoubtedly had the race bee five yards longer he would have won.
As it was Gap Princess won by a neck and Nuit Sombre just held on by a nose from the running on Countdown.
Hiccups, as at Thirsk last night, finished fourth.
15:05 Well it is 2-0 to the punters, although I have to say backing a 1/4 shot doesn’t take that much skill.
Shyrl, fourth at Royal Ascot, was taking a significant drop in class here and she won her race. Whether she won it as such a short odd-on runner should is open to debate and the horse hung quite badly two out. Having said that it was only her second run and she is bound to improve.
In summary it was a workmanlike rather than an inspirational win.
The only other runner in the betting, Dandy Nicholls’s Hysterical Lady, did not look too keen going to post and ran too freely in the race, only managing to a one paced finish fourth.
Both the runner up, Minotaurious and the third, Mo Mhuirnin, caught the eye and both look to have scope for improvement, especially the third.
Of the others, the debutante Carhue Princess was a big negative, very slowly away and always behind.
14:35 First blood to the punters here at Catterick and some interesting betting on the favourite, Watergate, who opened at around evens, drifted out to 6/4 in places and was finally backed in to 4/5.
It has to be said the favourite did not look that inspiring in the parade ring jig jogging around and on his toes and he took a strong hold with Seb Sanders going to the start. However he was the class horse in the race.
The favourite made all after getting a good break and tracking across to the rail. His lead was comfortable and the further they went the greater his lead.
An interesting challenger was the Irish raider Across The Rhine, coming all the way here for his maiden. At one time it looked like a wasted journey as he was very reluctant to enter the stalls. He also met little luck in running, being chopped for space turning for home. It looked as though he was booked for third but was nailed on the line by Digger Derek.
Tropical Blue ran on well to take second.
14:00 Only half an hour to our first race. the going, after overnight rain, is Good to Firm, Good in places.
12:45 OK I spoke too soon about the weather – it has now clouded over and there are some nasty grey clouds lurking.
We also have a couple of non-runners – Esoterica in the 3:30, who was second at Thirsk last night and Lightning Shadow in the 4:00 who is reported lame.
9:45 Good morning from a lovely warm and sunny North Yorkshire, where so far the forecast is proving to be wrong.
At this stage we have no non-runners, although there are a couple of runners declared this afternoon who ran at Thirsk last might.
The fields may be smaller than last night's Thirsk card but the racing is competitive nonetheless. Although Shyrl in the second looks like going off at prohibitively shorts odds.
My nap of the day is Hotham in the 4:30.
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Non-Runners
3:30
7 Esoterica (not eaten up)
4:00
7 Lightning Shadow (lame)
4:30
3 Mr Wolf (going)
Results
2:30
1st 5 Watergate 4/5 fav
2nd 4 Tropical Blue 5/1
3rd 2 Digger Derek 16/1
8 Ran
Distances 7L & 2 3/4L
Tote
Win £2.10
Place £1.10 £1.50 £3.90
Exacta £6.50
3:00
1st 7 Shyrl 1/4 fav
2nd 5 Minotaurious 28/1
3rd 6 Mo Mhuirnin 33/1
8 Ran
Distances 3 1/2L & 1 1/2L
Tote
Win £1/30
Place £1.02 £3.90 £3.80
Exacta £10.30
3:30
1st 10 Gap Princess 8/1
2nd 6 Nuit Sombre 14/1
3rd 1 Countdown 10/1
13 Ran NR 7
Distances Neck & Nose
Tote
Win £5.60
Place £2.10 £5.10 £3.50
Exacta £106.00
4:00
1st 8 Mujahope 18/1
2nd 11 Naias 12/1
3rd 5 Dubai To Barnsley 33/1
10 Ran NR 7
Distances 2 1/2L & 1/2
Tote
Win £20.90
Place £3.70 £3.00 £6.00
Exacta £184.70
4:30
1st 4 Tawzeea 7/2
2nd 6 Seta Pura 8/1
3rd
7 Ran NR 3
Distances 2 3/4L
Tote
Win £5.30
Place £2.20 £3.30
Exacta £35.70
5:00
1st 7 Fistral 5/2 fav
2nd 1 Mister Fizzbomb 100/30
3rd 8 Bollin Freddie 15/2
11 Ran
Distances Short Head & 6L
Tote
Win £3.80
Place £1.70 £1.60 £2.60
Exacta £11.60 |
