Keep faith with Kibaar to strike at Catterick

RACING: Six-year-old has enjoyed a resurgence under trainer Ruth Carr

KIBAAR was not winning out of turn when scoring at Newcastle recently and must have every chance of following up at Catterick.

The six-year-old earned himself a rating in the late 90s a few years ago when trained by Barry Hills.

However, it is fair to say he has not lived up to that early promise and it is fanciful to suggest he will ever scale those heights again.

Following a largely disappointing spell with Kevin Ryan, Kibaar joined his current trainer Ruth Carr around this time last year and there have at least been signs of a small resurgence.

He made the most of a career-low mark of 45 when ending a two-year losing spell at Ayr in July and has run consistently well ever since.

Decent efforts in defeat at Ayr, Yarmouth and Musselburgh were followed by his decisive recent triumph at Gosforth Park and even though the handicapper has handed him a 6lb hike, he is still nicely handicapped from a perch of 60.

David O’Meara can strike with CLENYMISTRA in the Watch More With Racing UK Extra Handicap.

The four-year-old should relish the drop back to a mile and a half after finding an extra quarter-mile too far at Redcar on her latest start.

A winner over 10 furlongs at Ripon in August, she weakened in the closing stages when third over this course and distance on her next start, after racing prominently throughout.

Ridden with a little more restraint she can regain winning ways.

JJ’S JOURNEY looked a winner in waiting when an eyecatching third on his second start at Hamilton and can get off the mark for Irish trainer Robbie Osborne in the Happy Birthday Valerie Clift Maiden Stakes.

LOPITO can land a deserved first triumph in the Champion Curio Homes Handicap at Bath.

Positive tactics worked the oracle for

PONT VERT on his third start at Leicester and Eve Johnston Houghton’s youngster can follow that success up in the Iesis Group Nursery Handicap.

SELECTIONS:

BATH: 2.10 Pont Vert, 2.45 Kinglami, 3.15 Skymax, 3.50 Lopito, 4.20 Swendab, 4.55 Rahmah, 5.30 Unbridled Spirit, 6.00 Princess Way.

CATTERICK: 2.00 Red Saree, 2.30 Ghost Queen, 3.05 Jj’s Journey, 3.35 KIBAAR (NAP), 4.10 Debatable, 4.40 Clenymistra, 5.10 I Am Dandy.

DOUBLE: Kibaar and Lopito.