Daily Placepots 
/ Harry Bowles / 30 March 2011 / Leave a Comment 
The turf season gets underway at Catterick this afternoon
"Danceintothelight was rather more fully campaigned as a juvenile hurdler, winning two of four completed starts, and with fitness assured and conditions fine, he looks one to keep on side."
Contrary to others, I have no problem with the turf season getting under way with a decidedly workaday card at Catterick. Sure, there'll be the odd big-race meeting here and there, but it's such tracks as Catterick - and such horses as Fremen et al - who are going to occupy the bulk of our time in the coming months. Get used to it!
14:20 - No half-volley looseners to get us off to an easy start, then, the opening sprint handicap for apprentices making for a particularly tricky first leg. A low draw looks set to prove an advantage and Wanchai Whisper, in four, makes some appeal on her first start for Mark Rimmer. Her fitness is assured, and even if she hasn't won for a while is reasonably consistent and is suited by coming off a strong pace. Rio's Girl is less exposed than most and warrants plenty of respect after a couple of getting-to-know-you runs at Wolverhampton for her new yard.
14:50 - April Fool has been in good touch on the AW, winning three since the turn of the year, but he's just as effective on turf and looks a sound starting-off point in the seven-furlong handicap which follows. He usually forces the pace, but he's shown before that doing so is no a prerequisite, so he'll be equally happy tracking the leaders with a couple of other front-runners in the line-up. Dazeen isn't one for win purposes, but for our needs is well worth incorporating. Despite being a maiden, he's finished placed on ten of his nineteen starts - including the last five - and he showed himself to have returned in form over an insufficient trip at Southwell earlier in the month. Lindoro arrives at the top of his game and is a more straightforward selection, proven both on turf and over seven furlongs.
15:20 - All bar Chookie Hamilton and The Oil Magnate have a question to answer on grounds of fitness in the twelve-furlong handicap. Whatever the concerns, it's difficult not to have Kiama Bay on side as he's progressive and has the look of a deserving favourite twelve weeks on from an impressive success at Wolverhampton. Karen McLintock has had three winners from her last six runners over jumps, and whilst none of those were Mason Hindmarsh, he's still one to view positively this afternoon. It had looked as if he could progress well as a hurdler after making a winning start at Aintree in October, but his jumping let him down when pitched in deep at Cheltenham next time and he hasn't been seen since. He wasn't tried beyond a mile and a quarter on the Flat last term and, given the manner of that hurdles success, there's good reason to imagine he could do better for the step up to this trip.
15:50 - The three Dandy Nicholls-trained runners in the seven-furlong claimer rather complicate matters. Aged eleven, Fremen was having his first ever start on Fibresand at Southwell last time and that below-form effort is readily disregarded. Like that one, Royal Dignitary is prolific at this level, but he hasn't been seen since last August and, on balance, it's better to look elsewhere. Thrust Control isn't the most consistent, but he won at Southwell earlier in the month and has the services of Silvestre de Sousa to boost his chance. Apache Ridge's limitations are firmly established, but this is his level and he'll be much more at home back in plating company having been below form in a handicap at Wolverhampton a fortnight ago.
16:20 - It's time to husband lines, and having swerved Dandy Nicholls in the previous race, we're going in with him in the six-furlong maiden. Sinadinou's juvenile form looks comfortably the best on show, and his sub-par reappearance can easily be attributed to the Fibresand.
16:50 - Getting to the final leg will represent a success in itself, and things don't get much easier once one is there. Madamlily hasn't won since her two-year-old days, but she ran well over this course and distance when last seen on the Flat in October, and after one encouraging outing over hurdles, she returns to the level in what looks a good spot. Danceintothelight was rather more fully campaigned as a juvenile hurdler, winning two of four completed starts, and with fitness assured and conditions fine, he looks one to keep on side. Eijaaz is capable on his day and is respected, but the doubts are sufficient to prevent him from making the placepot slip; it may just be worth chucking a few quid at him to win, though.
Selections:
14:20: 8,9
14:50: 7,13,14
15:20: 6,9
15:50: 3,8
16:20: 8
16:50: 4,7
48 lines
With the imminent Flat season looming large over this jumps reporter, there really is no danger of me taking on either Lingfield or Southwell. Small fields abound at Taunton, so let's stake low and hope for a 'payer'......
This week sees the return of Flat turf racing at Catterick on Wednesday, but until then we'll have to settle with today's mediocre card at Wolverhampton....
With the small fields at Wincanton, there's little option but to have a crack at Hexham for this afternoon's placepot...
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