Catterick and Southwell (a.w.)

There is flat racing this afternoon at Catterick, where the going is heavy but the track has passed an early morning inspection, and on the all-weather at Southwell. The card at Catterick is not at all punter-friendly in view of the bad ground, the likelihood of non-runners and the low standard of the racing. Mark Johnston´s Scarab (Greg Fairley) should win the 1 1/2 maiden at 15,20 CET, as top-rated West with the Wind (Tom Tate/ Micky Fenton), from an excellent German family, probaby needs better going, while the final flat race of the Catterick season should go to Quitit (Mrs. S.A.Watt/ Tony Culhane), an easy winner here over slightly further a week ago. Main interest at Southwell will be the struggle for the apprentices´ championship between David Probert and William Buick, both of whom are attached to Andrew Balding´s stable. Probert currently leads by 50-49 and has better rides today, with both Desert Strike at 14.30 and Shakespeare´s Son at 16.10 holding winning chances . Best race of the day is the 6 furlongs handicap at 15.30, were Probert partners hat-trick seeking Harlech Castle for Paul Cole. However the key race here could be a similar event over this CD a week ago, in which Irish Pearl (Karl Burke/ Fergus Sweeney) defeated Temple of Thebes (Ed Dunlop/ Dane O´Neill) and Pawan (Ann Stokell). Course specialist Pawan could once again be a good "place only" bet - his record of one win in his last 46 starts means he is only likely to win if there is a last minute change of jockey.