Go Snail’s pace at Catterick

Fahey runner got off to a promising start on debut and will be hard to beat

BRIAN THE SNAIL’s name hardly conjures images of blistering pace, but he can nonetheless burn a trail at Catterick.

Owned and trained by Richard Fahey, he was sent off the 2-1 favourite on his debut at Pontefract.

He showed a likeable attitude to fight off Father McKenzie and win by a length, doing all his best work close to home.

Iain Jardine is a trainer making a real name for himself through the exploits of Shrewd and Nakeeta and he looks likely to be a fixture for years to come.

He runs FINGAL’S CAVE in the Dine And View At Catterick Races Handicap and on his first start for the yard he looks interesting.

Formerly with Mick Channon, he is on a career-high mark of 84 but there is just a chance Jardine could illicit some improvement.

Off the track for 103 days he arrives fresh against some opponents who have been on the go all season.

Hugo Palmer is keen to get a win on the board with MAZYOUN and in the absence of Frankie Dettori at Newcastle Josephine Gordon has been entrusted with the ride in the Electron Services NE Ltd Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

Owned by Al Shaqab the youngster has shown a smart level of form in four races but without managing to break his duck.

There has been no disgrace in his last two defeats, though, as he made good late ground to finish second to Mubtasim in a £300,000 sales race at Doncaster and he was also placed behind Wick Powell in Redcar’s TwoYear-Old Trophy.

While he faces a couple of interesting newcomers – on paper at least – they will have to run to a very high level and Mazyoun will need to have regressed for him to fail to open his account. SELECTIONS:

CATTERICK: 1.20 BRIAN THE SNAIL (NAP), 1.50 Emerald Loch, 2.20 Rose Eclair, 2.55 La Fritillaire, 3.25 Fingal’s Cave, 4.00 Bahama Moon, 4.30 Coolcalmcollected, 5.05 Lydiate Lady

NEWCASTLE: 5.00 Cape Dignity, 5.30 Rashford’s Double, 6.00 Mazyoun, 6.30 Lomu, 7.00 Bryght Boy, 7.30 Rioja Day, 8.00 Lovin’ Spoonful, 8.30 Deben. DOUBLE: Brian The Snail and Mazyoun.