N.H. racing at Catterick and Leicester

Two jumps meeting today and both report good to soft ground, good in places, i.e. much better ground than we have had for the past two months of bad weather. This should certainly be to the advantage of German-bred Backbord (Lucy Wadham/ Dominic Elsworth), who faces 5 opponents in the novice chase at 16.50 CET at Leicester. Lightning Strike (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman) is also German-bred and looks the main danger, but Jaunty Flight (Oliver Sherwood/ Oliver Greenall) and Rightway Star (Donald McCain/ Jason Maguire) are also useful. Thedreamstillalive (Jim Old/ Jason Maguire) is a CD winner and is in good form; he has an obvious chance in the handicap chase at 17.50, but the interesting one here is Jonjo O´Neill´s Matcho Pierji (Tony McCoy), who has made no show in his recent races in much better company.

McCoy should also win the opening beginners chase at 15.20 on James Fanshawe´s Song of Songs, who was well beaten on his debut over fences but meets much inferior opposition now. The most interesting race at Catterick is the 2 mile handicap chase at 16.10 with 12 runners (one of the smallest fields at the meeting). Majorca (Ferdy Murphy/ Graham Lee), Stagecoach Amber (Sue Smith/ Tjade Collier) and Eborarry (Tim Easterby/ Brian Harding) all finished second last time, and one of them should win now, with preference for Majorca, another one who should appreciate better ground. The novice chase over 3 1/4 miles at 17.10 seems to lie between Chief Dan George (Jimmy Moffatt/ Paddy Aspell) and Great Approach (Nicky Richards/ Fearghal David), both of whom have been placed on all their runs over fences so far. Chief Dan George was easily the better over hurdles and can score today.