No winner came from more thana length off the pace at Wolverhampton yesterday.
PULL THE PIN 5.30 CATTERICK
Amateur handicaps are not normally worth playing in but Pull The Pin has strong credentials in this. His trainer, Paul Green has a 15% strike rate in handicaps at Catterick. That improves to 6-17 when they are in the first three in the betting and improves again when they are favourite, 4-8. Simon Walker has only ridden twice for the yard in the last 24 months resulting in a win and a second. Pull The Pin is in form, something a lot of his rivals are not. He beat a poor bunch in a 0-55 last time and off 2lbs higher in another 0-55 he has to run well.
Irish Girls Spirit is 0-9 on good or softer.
Ivestar won this race off 50 last year. That win was on soft ground, he is 0-12 on good or good to soft. He should be classed as well drawn in 1 but he is 0-9 when racing from any of the three stalls nearest the rail.
Prigsnov Dancer runs Catterick well but he is 1-29 on turf and the win was when he was a 2yo.
Headstight is 0-21 on turf, 0-15 over 5f with just two places.
Sophies Beau has won twice at big odds this season but she is 0-13 off marks 51-59.
Fleurtile is a 6 race maiden who comes from a yard that hasn’t had a winner since 3rd August, 0-25.
Boucher Garcon won round here in April 2012 off 52. He is on a 15 race losing streak but he is starting to get some respite off the handicapper. Down to 55 he should pop up soon.
Boy The Bell won an amateur riders contest in July off 51 over 7f. Back at 5f where he is 0-8 he can be overlooked. He is 0-5 at Catterick.
Piste has two wins from 58 races to her name and is 0-28 on good or slower.
Errigal Lad has won one race in the last four years back in June 2012 and is 0-8 over 5f.
Busy Bimbo is a 42 race maiden.
Hellolini is an 8 race maiden but the 3yo filly has a bit of scope judging by her 1l fourth at Yarmouth in June. However, Robin Bastiman is having a torrid season with just one winner from 62 runners since the 11th May.
On The High Tops won over this course and distance last year when with Ruth Carr. Now with Colin Teague who has had one winner from his last 100 runners back in July 2011.
Conclusion: Only a handful, if that, are likely to be involved here. Mick Easterby has probably targeted this race for Ivestar so his grand daughter can win the race for a second year. However, Pull The Pin looks to have improved since joining Paul Green and though On The High Tops and Irish Girls Spirit have led in the past, Pull The Pin looks the only recognised front runner. He is form, has the best jockey in the race on board and the ratings suggest he is the one to beat. He handles any ground