Midweek in early December at Catterick Bridge!

CATTERICK – Wednesday December 3rd

Going – Good

Ayr‘s meeting suffered from the frost, but Catterick survived and there were two moderate chases on the card.

1.15 3m 1½f 0-110 Handicap Chase

This race only ever concerned the front four and it was the trailer of those four for most of the race that got up. I rather suspect WIZARDS DUST needs things to go his way since the others came back to him. Chasing would seem to be his game and I would think this trip would be a minimum for him on a going day, since he wasn’t stopping. He picked off the front three on the run-in.
COLDWELLS ran a decent race in second. Her overall profile before this, a handful of places from 19 starts, sums up the lack of quality on offer. She would appear competitive in lowly company on this evidence.
NGONG HILLS led or disputing, jumping well in the main, but got run out off it close home. It could be that this is just stretching his stamina to the limit, he was all out over a similar trip at Wetherby in a moderate race. A drop back to 2m 6f may help if he is to win again.
BUSHIDO disputed with Ngong Hills for much of the way. He was run out of it late on. His last two performances have shown a little more zest than previous efforts. He is 3 times a winner, so I wouldn’t count him out in similar company.
ALTO STRATUS was never in touch with the leaders. I suspect a stiffer track may help but her general level of form suggests she struggles at this level, and a drop back to the 0-95/0-100 area is needed. Her current mark of 91 counts out the 0-90 contests, which is not helpful.
PRINCE OF SLANE jumped poorly and was struggling from a long way out. He hasn’t won for a couple of years.
TOP CLOUD was never competitive on his return after a break since March. I would presume the outing will bring him on.
POLAR GALE ran and jumped poorly and is well out of form this season.
DIVEX was going well enough just behind the leaders when departing at the twelfth. He has ability but his jumping does give cause for concern.
COOL COSSACK had made his effort but looked held when falling three out. That being said had he stood up the form would have suggested improvement on his seasonal debut. He isvery lightly raced for an 11 year old, having only visited the track 12 times, and may be worth keeping in the notebook around this trip on decent ground.

2.50 2m 0-105 Handicap Chase

The pace set by Cedar Rapids was a furious one.

I always felt that there was some potential for a win from FRITH. His fourth at Kelso behind Kalahari King at least hinted at ability, he built on that in easier company at Hexham then came good here. He picked off weakening rivals on the run-in and has certainly shown enough to suggest he can win again somewhere along the line.
MYSTIC GLEN was run out of it close him. She has been campaigned over longer distances recently and the drop back in trip seemed to suit. The decent going helped as she struggles with cut in the ground.
CEDAR RAPIDS hared off in front and though going close probably pulls too hard for his own good. He may hold on one day on a sharp track but he is not a reliable betting medium.
OSO MAGIC never figured but stayed on for fourth. He hasn’t won for three years and form over varied distances isn’t threatening to change that.
STORMY BEECH couldn’t get to the front here and is better at Sedgefield.
BRONZE DANCER didn’t look interested and his stable have their work cut out to produce anything worthwhile over fences.
PAUNTLEY GOFA would have welcomed the easier opposition than on some of his runs, but he departed at the first.
FALCON’S TRIBUTE was always in the rear and fell at the last on chasing debut.
OCEAN DANCER bumbled round in the rear before pulling up.
GLIMMER OF LIGHT lost his rider at the sixth and his runs are invariably error strewn.
RED DAWN fell at the third.