8.00 Southwell - Sociologist
At a huge price i think SOCIOLOGIST could go well here , hasnt shown anything of late tbh and hasnt won since 2022 but as a result has come tumbling down in the weights and the fact that he has two wins and a place from his three runs over CD makes me think he could give a better showing of himself here. Trainer Scott Dixon hasnt been in the best of form it has to be said but he can ready one at a price when he wants , and Kieran O'Neill whose in the hot seat has a 13% strike rate over the last couple of weeks.
8.30 Southwell - Ignar Lamar - Spring Romance
Two for me in this one , been a while since his last win but IGNAR LAMAR could go well i think , was a decent 1/2 length third last time out at Wolverhampton and if coming into this in the same mood should give a good account of himself. One from one over this evenings CD and is a win and a place from two runs at the course overall. Has won off higher marks than todays and looks decently drawn. Jim Goldie brings just this one down to Shuvvel making him the longest traveller of the meeting and i cant see him coming all this way if he didnt think the horse had a good chance of going home with the spoils. Has a 20% strike rate in the past couple of weeks , Rab Havlin piloting and hes yet to win on the horse but has three places from his four races. SPRING ROMANCE is my other fancy , has been third the last twice and should be able to go close here i feel , has won off higher mark than todays , and like my other selection its been a while since he got his head in front but i think that could change tonight. Has won three times and placed once over CD from his seven runs to date , and draw doesnt look too bad. Mick Appleby has just this one here tonight and Rossa Ryan onboard for the first time leads me to believe they expect a decent run.
7.30 Southwell - Destinado - Trusty Scout
Like the look of a couple in this , firstly the Derek Shaw runner TRUSTY SCOUT who was a solid third last time out over this CD , and off the same mark i think he can be making his presence felt again at a decent price. Yet to win over todays distance but has placed in four of his five starts over it , and has two places from two runs over CD. Has been running consistently well - 1,3,2,7,2,2,3 and deserves to get another win under his saddle. Cam Hardie in the plate and hes won on the horse before and i think he should be there or thereabouts come the line. DESTINADO is my other selection , since joining James Owen yard at the beginning of the year he is three from six and after finding 2m a bit of a stretch last time i think this drop in trip will play to his strengths. Has placed on both his starts over CD but has won here at Shuvvel before (1m4f). Adrian Keeley on board and hes ridden the horse on all six starts since going to his new yard. Should be bang there come the business end of things.
7.00 Southwell - Daafy
I think this one could go the way of DAAFY whose been in decent form lately - 2,1,2 in his last three races , the last pair over tonights CD. Lto he was beaten by Bobby Joe Leg who went onto win his next two and in the other second he was beaten by Davids Diva who also gone onto win his next two races (and is entered in the opener here) so for me theres a bit of substance about the form he brings into the race. Four wins and four places from 13 starts over CD makes him a bit of CD specialist in my book and i can see him going close here. Cam Hardie been on aboard for those last three races and hes booked for the ride tonight , has four wins and six places from his twenty five rides so knows the horse well.
2.20 Catterick - Belle Na Bann - Lifetime Legend
Couple in this one catch my eye and they were first and second in the race last race and i think both of them can go close again. BELLE NA BANN arrives in decent form , won two on the bounce before coming fourth last time out but im hoping she can improve on that and get back to winning ways. Placed on only start over CD but has won and placed twice in five runs at the course overall. Wont mind the ground as has won on heavy and soft , Micky Hammond been doing well when sending them here this season with a 14.3% strike rate , and jockey Emma Smith Chaston proving to be good value for her 3lb claim , has a 17.4% strike rate when riding here at Catterick this season. She also has two wins from her three rides to date on the horse and when teaming up with the trainer over the last three weeks they have a 12% strike rate. LIFETIME LEGEND won the race last year and though he hasnt been at his best lately he is now 11lb below the mark of which he won last years race which to my mins has to give him sort of chance if he can get back on track. Hasnt won on heavy as far as i can see but has gone well on yielding / soft so im hoping that he'll be able to handle the underfoot conditions. Neil King has a 16.7% strike rate over the last five years and 7lb claimer Laura Ward takes the ride for the first time.
4.35 Leicester - Cat Tiger
CAT TIGER appeals in this one , decent sort when with Paul Nicholls , run out last time on first start for new trainer S Loxton but im sure he can do better here. Won this race back in 2021 and has gone well and won on the heavy going before which has to count for alot in my book. Trainer has just this one here and has a 33% strike rate over the last three weeks , whilst jockey David Maxwell also here for just this one and he has four wins and six places to date from his fifteen rides so knows the horse well enough.
