Roughing it during half term is not for the fainthearted that’s for sure, but it has to be said that the behaviour of the kids was spot on so a relaxed day in the early summer sun after a hard week’s graft was very much in order. There is an on old Tote (or is it Betfred on the back of today’s take over news) building which is in fair shape but no use. On the front is the somewhat cryptic slogan ‘a pile in the midst of’ prophetic and strangely melancholy leaving the reader to ponder what type of midst did the pile emanate from and a pile of what ? I remain unsure that the jovial crowd of Teesiders and Tykes had given this as much thought as I have. The facilities in the centre as you would expect for feck all money were hardly The Ritz but there were fun rides for the kids, cheap ice cream to keep you cool and some food. The food was good value for example pie, mash, peas and gravy with a cup of tea for just over a fiver was top value and healthy food as well. That is if there was any left and if you can afford the time to queue as the productivity rate of one customer per ten minutes is inverse to McDonalds who clearly have little to fear on the customer service but at least the meat looked beef and beef as I know it as well. Interesting use of drinks’ cooler to keep fresh air cold whilst drinks remained stubbornly at ambient. The main grandstand and its premium operation could be viewed at a distance and didn’t look all that to be fair coupled with an amount of work on the paddock which gave it a Sofian look in its utilitarian finest.
Catterick's main stands as seen from the two furlong pole
The racecard was typical Yorkshire staple and clearly this is centrally processed. No mention of foaling dates for the juveniles despite this being Timeform notes perhaps they could engineer a bit of work on this front. There was more promotion of the famous Segway but unlike Thirsk there was no demonstration, surely a slip up there but then it was an afternoon meeting today. The sponsors included a bridal gown business offering ten per cent off with the card which sounds a good deal but not sure of where the wasted material goes and whether you have a choice of what is removed. Whilst the other non industry sponsor was a flooring company although you would never guess it from a confusing advert. One very good point of note was inclusion of a thorough feature on the two Group One events going on today at Epsom. This was very welcome.
The mighty Segway on its way to Olympic status if Yorkshire has its way
This is a tight left handed course with some fairly steep undulations. The straight sprint trip is just the five as six takes in a bend. The chute for the five furlongs is downhill making this a very fast trip and sometimes enterprising sharp types can build up a big enough lead to knock races. As such alongside the conformation makes this a course specialist venue. The track has a few other features including a good sized lake with even an island in it. This probably helps with watering and as such a decent good to firm going was achieved. But as this was a nice hot day I think we quickly got to the firm stage so I would use that as a description from my point of view.
Best racecourse with its own island goes to .....
First race was a five furlong maidens stakes for two year olds. There was one colt amongst the newcomers who is the January foal Ralphy Boy who is from the sprinty ‘silca’ line so could be quite good. He ran green missing the kick but came through strongly to lead inside final furlong and in a close run finish just prevailed. The best of the runners with form was Superplex (April foal) who was a beaten favourite last time out having run a fair second when building on his debut. Today chased leader to lead at the furlong pole and in a ding dong finish was pipped on the line. Still think he will continue to struggle to break duck as lacks stamina and probably ability. Of the others with form Nameitwhatyoulike (February foal) had shown no speed in three runs but pottered on for third place today might be better on a stiffer track and Dolly Danca (May foal) was going the right as had shown speed in all three of her races to date but hasn't strengthened up enough to win yet. The new fillies to racing were Elsie Tanner ( a middle distance bred April foal from the Old Vic line which implies soft ground preference was thrashed today)and a March foal Look Here’s Lady (well backed on debut but failed to sparkle)
A 1m6 selling stakes had a couple which stood out on OR but neither ran that badly today but could not quite match cosy winner White Deer. Beforehand I thought that White Deer was also well in based on the conditions but has only won his four races over around a mile so why after forty odd efforts try this trip? His mark is coming down so maybe looking at a class 6 and remember he has won at class 4 and 5. So staying this trip was a bit unexpected however attracted no bid. Summerlea came out second best. He had run his best race to date over this distance on firm ground in Ireland and this run emphasised that he is on form again. Capable Guest was not badly in and was running his 98th today which is some going. Had been running pretty well and this is a race he ran very well in last year. Ran prominently but under a hard drive and muddled home in third giving impression begining to lose interest in the game. Silent Lucidity ran better than of late but appeared not to stay this trip. Bring Sweets has had a couple of hurdles efforts including in a good class 3 seller and winning at Wetherby. Has some fair efforts on the fibressand over 1m4 and was third when hampered over course and distance in a three year old seller. Got himself into the race about two out but found trouble when trying to take closer order and was not given a hard time when chance had gone. One to watch. Just Observing has his first go at this trip having run very well recently over 18 furlongs over the hurdles at Market Rasen and with a fixture due there in a couple of weeks could well be lined up for there. Given an easy today pottered around in his own time. The other four year old was Wingnaprayer confirmed that he looks absolutely useless
Field approaches the sharp left hand bend into the straight during the seller
Five furlong handicap class 5. A proper sprint with everyone a distance winner and a fair sprinkling of CD. I think this track brings out specialist speed merchants. Good example of this is the winner Lucky Art who had been mixing turf and sand with success until being run out of it last time out at Beverley. Had run with credit over CD but not having won here was put right by blasting out of the stalls pulling clear never looking in danger today. Kyzer Chief was a remote second but ran with credit again here at a track where he is a CD a month ago. The rest were well strung out with them all looking outpaced.
Blast our and hang on
Class 4 handicap over six furlongs. The winner was Roker Park who appeared to be better served by stiffer tracks but has run well at that odd course Chester. Ran well today showing battling characteristics having looked beaten at halfway. Benefited from a good pace today. Only one CD in the field today. Second home was Caranbola who was a decent two year old filly finishing second by a neck in the listed Hillary Needler Trophy at Beverley. Has turned into a Beverley staple of late and might have find this track a little sharp for her today but showed she is good form and returning to Humberside should be noted. Top weight Bonnie Charlie had some excellent Group 3 and Listed form as a two year old and progressed to good runs in the Prix Eclipse and Horris Hill Stakes. This led to a quite high handicap mark but this has bit by bit coming down but first run of the season wasn’t that great but today showed some improvement and if stays on this mark I think he still has a good handicap sprint in him this year probably at a stiffer track over the six. Viva Ronaldo is another to have run with credit in group company as a juvenile. Pedigree suggests he is better over seven and his good run today further emphasises that point. Legal Eagle likes to bowl along and won this race last year off 5lbs less. Good run when last over a sharpish six and better without clobber on. Had a definite chance today but after leading into the straight soon folded.I am not a fan of the cheekpeices on him.
Roker Park makes a welcome return to the winners' enclosure in the feature race of the day
The Im4 maiden stakes attracted some modest sorts. In fact absolutely useless. King Of The Celts was the only possible winner on the basis of consistency, relative ability and stamina to say this trip. Really cannot lose. Won easily but not comfortably. For the record December was clear second best but that is unlikely to result in winning anything.
Only way any of these will win is by hitching a lift
The class 6 handicap over six furlongs is a seller bar the auctioneer. It was won in smooth style by North Central. Was a very interesting runner today as was favourite being beaten a length in this race last year and was now off a mark 8lbs lower, was improving since seasonal reappearance and last two runs have been encouraging over too short or too stiff tracks to keep weight down. Looked a plot. Babyshambles had form which showed that all six wins had been over five but on an OR of 58 looked attractive and his running style now seems to suit a sharp six. He finished second today behind a handicap good thing was not a disgrace could well follow up in similar event. The pair were pretty well clear.
North central (red) about to be loaded before winning
Class 5 handicap over seven furlongs.It was won well be favourite Powerful Presence who I thought looked poorly handicapped on turf so I got that one wrong. Second was Dhhamaan and when blinkers are applied that seems to do the trick having won exclusively over the seven especially on fast tracks. Third was Thinking who has also won at Catterick but seems better over the six, a point I think was emphasised today. Nothing stood out with the remainder.
They're out the gate in the last
Notebook
Superplex (N) up £40
2 0 3 0
Has been a well backed lay which in truth has been a real money spinner. In the confines of the rules of this assessment it is to a £10 stake gained off the backer. Season is over so you never know how the winter so I will shelve
Bring Sweets (P) down £30
0 2 0
Not bad next two but hopeless when I saw her at Musselburgh and on that showing was unceremoniously binned.
Caranbola (P)up £56
2 1 13/8 1 5/1
On the basis of this I only backed her at Beverley. It was a highly successful policy with two wins and a second. Season is over but somewhere like Beverley is a specialist track.
Bonnie Charlie (P) down £20
0 3
Requirments were stiffer track over six off today mark or better. Only ran twice and last one was good run at 25/1 only beaten half a length running on. End of season now but if running over 6f is likely to win. Shelved for the purposes of this system
Babyshambles (P) level
2 5
Requirement was a sharp six. Did not have conditions to suit being confined to five. Shelved