Richard Fahey’s Cosmic Statesman handled testing ground when second on his debut over hurdles last time out at Wetherby and should go close under Brian Hughes at Catterick. The son of Halling was rated 63 on the flat and is respected with a run under his belt however preference lies instead with Kismu (12.45) reversing the form under Sam Twiston-Davies. Micky Hammond’s gelding travelled ominously well when similarly making his hurdles debut last month at Wetherby and with the stable in much better form can make it second time lucky at the expense of Bloomfields’ Berland who is a fascinating hurdling debut after formerly plying his trade on the flat with Michael Bell.
Hester Flemen (1.15) makes her debut for the Nicky Richards’ stable and is a confident selection to maintain her unbeaten record under rules in the Beginners’ Chase over an extended three miles. The selection won a pair of Novices’ Hurdle last term with Donald McCain, winning well on testing ground at Carlisle and Newcastle over two and two and a half miles respectively.
The well-bred daughter of Flemensfirth was second in a point-to-point in her native Ireland behind the 135-rated mare Carigmoorna Rock and in receipt of 7lb should be difficult to beat on her debut over the larger obstacles. Sandy Thomson’s string remain in good nick and his runner Seldom Inn is respected should the market speak in his favour, after two excellent runs over fences at Kelso and Southwell.
Trainer Philip Hobbs seldom sends runners to the Yorkshire track and the arrival of Captain Bocelli (1.45) warrants maximum respect on his debut for the stable in the Novices’ Hurdle over two and a half miles. The selection sprang a surprise in a Market Rasen bumper for former handler Anabel King and made a pleasing return at the track in September. Richard Johnson gets the leg up and after being successful with his sole runner to the track earlier in the year, is a confident selection to maintain the handler’s 100% record with runners at Catterick in 2015.
A field of eight head to post for the feature handicap chase over the minimum trip and Martin Todhunter’s Morning with Ivan (2.50) expected to go close under Henry Brooke. The selection scored at the track 18 months ago and returned to the winners’ enclosure when scoring at Cartmel at the spring. There has been cut in the ground of each of her three career successes over timber and after two recent efforts over the larger obstacles can make it third time lucky from a pound lower mark.
Paul Nicholls‘ Be Daring ran an excellent second on debut last season at Wincanton and is respected making his seasonal reappearance under Sam Twiston-Davies, but John Ferguson’s High Bridge (3.20) is unopposable under a penalty and should score readily under Aidan Coleman. The selection ploughed through the mud to score impressively last month at Huntingdon and is bred to relish both the step up in trip and the forecast testing conditions.
There’s all-weather action at Kempton where Adam Kirby is an eye-catching jockey booking aboard Charlie Fellowes’ Vroom (3.10) in the 6f Nursery. The well-bred son of Poets Voice has progressed in each of his three starts in maidens, putting in a career-best last time out at Lingfield, and looks open to further improvement from an opening mark of 70.
John Gosden‘s Laugh Aloud (4.10) is related to plenty of smart performers and wouldn’t need to be anything too special to make a winning debut in the first division of the maiden over a mile. She is a half-sister to the yard’s Group 1 winner Debussy, amongst others, and should be there or thereabouts under Rab Havlin.
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