Piper set to call the tunes at Catterick

Pay The Piper can boost the bank balance in the Watch On RacingTV Novices' Hurdle at Catterick.

Ann Hamilton's former Irish point-to-pointer must concede a penalty to the majorityof his opponents after his successful British rules debut at Sedgefield last month.

Pay The Piper won with authority over the extended two miles that day, though, and this move up by another two and a half furlongs will surely be to his advantage.

He concluded his six-race Irish education with a 15- length success on heavy ground at Tinahely in November, having previously been placed on all his other completed starts as a five-year-old.

He did not always appear the stoutest stayer at three miles, but just short of two and a half round this sharp track ought to be perfect - and the forecast testing conditions are clearly no problem either.