NORTH YORKSHIRE veteran Eijaaz, Catterick’s ultimate course specialist, returns to his favourite venue tomorrow.
Trained near Thirsk by Geoff Harker, the 11-year-old will be making his 29th appearance on the course, where his record stands at seven wins, nine seconds and a brace of third-placed efforts.
His latest outing was at last Saturday’s Catterick fixture when he was narrowly denied by Herostatus in a thrilling finish.
Eijaaz is seeking compensation for that near miss in tomorrow’s yorkshire-outdoors.co.uk Selling Stakes when he will again be partnered by Duran Fentiman.
On handicap ratings, he looks to have a mountain to climb to beat such rivals as Gordonsville and Prive Story, both of whom are rated much higher than him.
But Eijaaz has specialist inside knowledge. He knows Catterick better than any horse and has an impeccable track record. He will be awarded a warm reception if he can chalk up his eighth course success.
Followers of the Kevin Ryan stable will be hoping that Panama Cat enjoys better luck than at Beverley on her debut last month.
After being backed down to favourite, she stumbled after leaving the stalls and unshipped Jamie Spencer. She deserves another chance in the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing Maiden Stakes, which opens the card.
Stillington trainer Ruth Carr returns Chosen One to Catterick, where this speedy gelding landed a decisive success two outings ago. He has since finished well-beaten at Ayr, but he was taken on by another front-runner on that occasion and the pair of them were spent forces entering the final furlong.
Chosen One is entitled to another chance in the Lionweld Kennedy Handicap.
Lucky Numbers merits respect in the Pin Point Recruitment Handicap.
David O’Meara’s gelding ran a fair race when fifth to Nomoreblondes over the minimum distance here a fortnight ago. The step up to six furlongs promises to be more suitable tomorrow.
Paul Midgley supplies the nap selection in Choc’a’moca in the Go Racing In Yorkshire Handicap.
The five-year-old won at Carlisle on Monday and is capable of defying a penalty over this extra furlong on behalf of an in-form trainer.
At Wetherby this evening, Norton trainer Brian Rothwell bids to strike while the iron is hot with Tinseltown in the wetherbyracing.co.uk Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
The six-year-old ended a long losing run when winning here last week under Tony McCoy. Dougie Costello takes over this time and Tinseltown is taken to defy a 7lb penalty, which has boosted his weight to a hefty 12st 4lb. It is, though, a modest contest.
Galway Jack was a disappointing favourite at Market Rasen last time out when the rain-softened ground and a bad blunder may have conspired against him.
He had previously been an unlucky loser at Southwell, falling at the penultimate fence with a race seemingly at his mercy.
He turns out for Caroline Bailey and Andrew Thornton in the Wetherby Racecourse & Conference Centre Handicap Chase and should not be underestimated.
Paddy The Hare (7.45), who has run well to finish second in both his recent outings after a break since October, can go one better here and Woodacre (9.20), runner-up in both his starts, can make it third time lucky under Andrew Tinkler in the closing bumper.
Racing selections
Wetherby (today)
6.05 Mountain Hiker, 6.35 Tinseltown, 7.10 Sweet Shock, 7.45 Paddy The Hare, 8.15 Kingdom Of Munster, 8.50 Galway Jack, 9.20 Woodacre.
Today’s other meetings
Hamilton, Lingfield, Sandown, Uttoxeter and Wolverhampton.
Catterick (tomorrow)
2.00 Panama Cat, 2.35 Eijaaz, 3.10 Chosen One, 3.45 Lucky Numbers, 4.20 Finity Run, 4.55 Choc’a’moca (NAP), 5.30 Viking Warrior.
Tomorrow’s other meetings
Bath, Doncaster, Goodwood, Market Rasen and Newmarket.
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