N.H. racing at Bangor and Catterick

Today´s jumps meeting at Chepstow has been called off, but racing goes ahead at Bangor and Catterick, with very soft/ heavy ground at both meetings. There are some very small fields at Bangor, with only 4 contesting the 2 1/2 mile handicap chase at 15.25 CET, but this is still quite a tricky event.

Noun de la Thinte (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman) is the likely favourite, having won 5 successive races before a narrow defeat at Warwick a week ago, however we have a slight preference for local hope Khachaturian (Donald McCain/ Jason Maguire), who has to concede 18 lbs to the Williams mare, but is potentially better class. McCain has his string in good form and always does well here; he has fancied runners in several races and could also win the 4yo hurdle at 16.00 with Devil to Pay (fell last time here) and Always Bold in the 3 mile handicap hurdle at 17.45. Best bet of the day here could be Asturienne (Alan King/ Wayne Hutchinson), who can defy a double penalty in the mares novice hurdle at 17.10.

The fields are much bigger at Catterick, which has survived an early morning inspection. The handicap chase at 15.10 looks wide open; Osolomio (Jennie Candlish/ A. O´Keeffe), who had no chance in a Cheltenham cross-country last time, Quite de Tresor (Lucinda Russell/ Campbell Gillies) and Shake the Barley (Tom George/ Sam Thomas) are our 3 against the field. George and Thomas also have a good chance in the novice hurdle at 16.20 with Truckers Hall, runner-up to the useful Possol last time. The 3 mile handicap hurdle at 15.45 is another difficult race. The Snail (Evan Williams/ Paul Moloney) is the obvious favourite here, having won his last 5 races. But he has gone up 29 lbs as a result, and as we saw yesterday every winning run comes to an end.