No Deny-ing opportunity at Catterick

Deny is no rock-and-roll star but he might have enough about him to prevail in the Go Racing In Yorkshire Handicap Hurdle at Catterick.

Trained in Northamptonshire by Henry Hogarth, the seven-year-old has already won well at Catterick this season and was a little unfortunate in North Yorkshire just over a week ago.

Deny f inished second behind the progressive Nefyn Bay in a two-mile-three-handicap hurdle but he was well clear of the third home that day and is in decent nick.

That run was also meritorious as it was his first stab over that sort of trip, which he handled competently enough.

Little wonder he is back over course and distance for another go in the sort of race which could be his for the taking — assuming there is nothing like Nefyn Bay lurking in the field.

Welsh Inlet should be respected in the Mix Business With Pleasure Handicap at Kempton.

John Bridger’s mare is not as good on the all-weather as she is on the turf, but a race like this sits cosily upon her radar.

The seven-year-old made an unimpressive return from a break over Kempton’s seven furlongs in January but green shoots of recovery were evident at Sunbury.

Stepped back up to a mile, Welsh Inlet stayed on purposefully late in the day to finish third, beaten two lengths by Skidby Mill.

The daughter of Kheleyf might even have got a bit closer had she been a little more prominent to what was admittedly a stop-start pace — something which also did her no favours.

Picture: PA. John Bridger.