Mac power to tell at Catterick
DECLAN CARROLL’S Machree ran a huge race last time out at York and should have no trouble opening his account in the Halloween EBF Novice Stakes at Catterick.
Sent off 50-1 for his debut at Ripon he belied those odds by finishing third to Michael Bell’s Revived, beaten just over a length.
That was over five furlongs and he faced an extra half furlong and a steep rise in class on the Knavesmire.
His performance will have gone into many notebooks as he looked set to play a hand in the finish when he inexplicably jumped a path with two furlongs to run.
Many young horses would have completely lost their way doing that at racing pace yet despite losing many lengths he regained his momentum to finish fourth, beaten just over two lengths.
It is not stretching the imagination to suggest he lost far more ground than he was beaten by and it is logical to think a Catterick event is of lesser class than one at York.
Mixboy, a smart chaser for Keith Dalgleish, can take his record on the Flat to two out of three in the Eat Drink Sleep Nags Head Pickhill Handicap.
He won three of his five races over fences last year and after a break he bolted up at Ripon, his debut on the level.
Beaten at Ayr last time out, that can be put down to heavy ground and back on a better surface he can be expected to regain the winning thread.
The first-time visor looks a good move by Kevin Ryan on Al Khan in the Dine And View At Catterick Races Handicap.
After a winless season his mark has dropped from 90 to 78 but his last win was off 85 so he is very capable at his best.
It is a surprise Ryan has not reached for the headgear before now, but having also been given a chance by the handicapper too, he can bounce back.
Jellmood has been given time to get over being gelded and while a mark of 90 looks lofty he should still prove tough to beat in the #10 Free At 32Red.com Novice Stakes at Wolverhampton.
Placed behind some smart youngsters on his first three races, he was then last of nine in a Newbury Listed race when he was almost pulled up.
That was obviously too bad to be true but the fact he was even considered for a race like that suggests Marco Botti thinks highly of him.
At Bangor, Turtle Wars can make a victorious start for Nicky Henderson in the H.N. Nuttall Ltd Novices’ Hurdle.
He looked a useful prospect when finishing third in a point to point for Colin Bowe back in April and can make an immediate impact.
Modus can make a winning debut over fences in the Equine Lens Novices’ Chase.
Paul Nicholls’ runner proved pretty capable over hurdles, with his second in the Greatwood last season a particularly decent effort.