mid-division, headway 4 out, left 3rd approaching 3 out, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
chased leaders, weakened 7th, pulled up after 11th
led, headed 3 out, no extra when lost 2nd run-in
ridden and struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, close 3rd when slipped up on bend before 3 out
held up towards rear, weakened from 5th, tailed off when pulled up after 8th
mid-division, struggling from 12th
chased leaders, driven 12th, hit next, weakening when blundered 4 out
in touch, weakening and in in 6th when unseated rider last
in rear, headway 9th, led 3 out, clear between last 2, eased heavily
mid-division, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
With the Sue Smith yard in fine form Izzykeen gets the tentative vote here with Stoneriggs Merc and Fourpointone selected to chase him home. Izzykeen appears most effective on a quicker surface, conditions that he failed to acquire last time. He has not competed over the larger obstacles since October '06 but has been sliding down the ratings while Catterick appears a course than he reserves his best performances for. Stoneriggs Merc is up 8lb for his recent win and should go close. He does think about the job hence the cheekpieces but at the likely price it appears better to look elsewhere. Fourpointone is certainly worth a look in the market. Connections are not synomenous with attempting to land a 'touch' and he has the benefit of one outing recently which should leave him primed for today. His form had tailed off woefully in Ireland but he is another who likes to hear his hooves rattle and in a race where many in-and-out performers will line up, he is likely to provide some value. Whistle Blowing is one of those in-and-out performers and has yet to get his head in front. He has it all to do with Stoneriggs Merc while another outing since then would suggest that he is certainly one to avoid. Springaway has been sliding down the ratings of late but has snippets of form that would give him a squeak off bottom weight but Izzykeen gets the nod with Fourpointone worth a look in the market.
Izzykeen 12-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 15, 17l behind Jackie Boy (10-10) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Lethem Air 8-1 (11-4) Led from 3rd to 5th, weakened from 4 out, 5th of 10, 26l behind Something Silver (11-6) at Ayr 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Feb.
Stoneriggs Merc (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, led 6th, ridden 3 out, kept on well run-in, won at Musselburgh 3m cnd hcp chs (5) gs in Jan beating Whistle Blowing (10-5) by 2l, 12 ran.
Notaproblem (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, some headway 8th, weakened before 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Jackie Boy (10-10) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Feb, 15 ran.
Whistle Blowing (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (11-3) Held up mid-division, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 17, 22l behind Charlies Double (11-3) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-88 (5) gs in Feb.
Cheers Thank You (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out and weakened from next, 6th of 14, 37l behind Dickie Lewis (11-1) at Kelso 3m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan.
Baawrah 8-1 (10-6) Mid-division, ridden after 14th, chased leaders, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 12, 18l behind Mister Jungle (10-7) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Fourpointone 12-1 (10-10) Led, mistake 8th, headed next, soon ridden, weakened before 3 out, 4th of 13, 34l behind Minella Lodge (10-8) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Feb.
Hall of Flame (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, weakened from 7th, 6th of 14, well behind Viking Rebel (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 6f nov hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Springaway 22-1 (11-6) Held up, headway 13th, weakened from 2 out, 7th of 17, 24l behind Charlies Double (11-3) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-88 (5) gs in Feb.
High Commission 33-1 (10-7) Always behind, lost touch 9th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Dawn Ride (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Feb, 12 ran.
