16:10 Catterick

Wednesday 24 January 2024

All12:5013:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Racing Again 2nd February Open NH Flat Race (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 3m 57.1s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Wendigo⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| D

7/4

£70,000 recruit from the Irish pointing field who built on his Worcester debut third when landing short odds at Hexham (heavy) in November. Ought to be very competitive under the penalty.

Form: U3-131

Wilful³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| CD

85/40

Cost €105,000 as a 3-y-o and having been too free at Stratford on debut, showed much improved form to get off the mark at this C&D (good to soft) just over 5 weeks ago, showing a willing attitude under pressure. Has a penalty to carry, but there's plenty to like.

Form: 41

Apollos Mission

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: Micky Hammond

40/1

Telescope gelding. Dam maiden on Flat (stayed 6f). Betting should guide expectations.

Form:

Come On Big Boy

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J Garritty| T: I W McInnes

66/1

Ardad gelding. Half-brother fair 1m winner Between Me And U. Dam 9f/1¼m winner.

Form:

Foster's Fortune³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: C Grant

25/1

Down the field but not beaten far in a couple of bumpers this winter (latest over C&D). Step forward required if he's to get involved.

Form: 06

Independent Jimmy³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr

125/1

Clovis Du Berlais gelding who looked badly in need of the experience when finishing a well-beaten eighth behind Wilful over C&D (good to soft) last month.

Form: 8

Magical Hill²⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: P Neville

18/1

£40,000 4-y-o, Kingston Hill gelding. Half-brother to useful hurdle/high-class chase winner Classic Getaway and temperamental but fairly useful chaser Alminar. Dam (b74) ran once in bumper. Placed on second of 2 starts in Irish points (May 2023).

Form: P-3

Away She Goes

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Billy Garritty| T: B Ellison

7/1

5,000 gns 4-y-o, Mahler mare. Half-sister to 2 winners on Flat, including useful 7f/1m winner Beauchamp Bagenal. Dam (h103), ran twice over hurdles, 7f/1m winner on Flat. Yard also runs Saxon Star.

Form:

Diva B

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: T Lacey

4/1

€50,000 3-y-o, Blue Bresil filly. Half-sister to fairly useful hurdler Maclaine and fair hurdler Regal Renaissance, stays 3m. Interesting newcomer.

Form:

Wendywilldo

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: D Brooke

80/1

Dragon Dancer filly. Dam (h84), maiden hurdler (stayed 23f), half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/smart staying chaser (Scottish Grand National winner) Takingrisks.

Form:

Non-Runners

Saxon Star

Weight: 10-2| Age: 4

T: B Ellison J: Ben Robinson

Forecasts

Wendigo (7/4), Wilful (85/40), Diva B (4/1), Away She Goes (7/1), Saxon Star (12/1), Magical Hill (18/1), Foster's Fortune (25/1), Apollos Mission (40/1), Come On Big Boy (66/1), Wendywilldo (80/1), Independent Jimmy (125/1)

This looks to concern penalised runners WENDIGO and Wilful, with preference for the former having confirmed the promise of his Rules debut at Hexham 9 weeks ago. Jonjo O'Neill's charge showed a willing attitude to open his account over C&D last month, so he won't allow the selection to have it all his own way, while Diva B and Saxon Star are a couple of interesting debutantes worth keeping an eye on, too.