12:23 Catterick Tips

Has to be backed. Lots of confidence behind this horse. Has won over course and distance 3 times, including this race last year, and ran well last time out.

Winner at Nottingham in June. Bit in and out since but ran well when 4th in a big field at York last week. Nudged up a lb for that but this is less competitive so should still run well.

Quest For Fun has been in good form lately, and there was nothing wrong with his three-length sixth at York last Friday. That was a better race than this, and despite his big weight, he could easily come up trumps here. The Tim Easterby yard continues in grand form, and jockey Sean Kirrane is riding really well just now.

Highfield Viking has been consistent all year, winning at Ayr and Chepstow in August and being placed in 5 other starts. His form has dipped slightly in his last two runs, but they were competitive handicaps at Ayr and York where he was still not beaten far. Dropped 1lb here, he looks sure to go well and looks like a good each-way bet.

Race 5 at Catterick today is a Handicap (Class 4) for 3-year-olds and upwards over 1,414 m. The suggested wager is for the each way on the 3-year-old gelding Native Instinct from the Edward Bethell yard. It will be ridden by Oisin Orr. This son of Night of Thunder is holding form and has had one run over this course and distance where he was only just denied victory. Looks a good thing here.

MUDAMER has only just about won in his turn and losing runs of 6, 7, and 17 between his wins thus far could be a proper reason not to back the 6-year-old today. I have never been a slave to such things though, and dropping back to 7f here last time saw the gelding match his level of recent times (has earned a rating of 83 five times over the past 14 months). Probably needs to run to 84 off his revised mark, and so win and place covers that doubt. Hopefully, he will travel kindly once again and play a role in what does look an open handicap.

MAGIC BOY has done himself justice in maiden and novice company so far. Today he goes handicapping, and that may well see him improve a yard or two. If judged on his second run at Ripon back in June, where he was still very green, his opening mark is a gift. It is possible that rating was overly optimistic, although the fifth and eighth (Magic Boy second) have won since. On the balance of his form, the selection still has a decent look about him, and hopefully, his slightly extended time in other company will have toughened the 3-y-o up.

This is the rank outsider in the field at 20/1 and yet has won over C&D off a 5lb higher mark. This ground will also suit, and the trainer's runners have definitely been running a lot better in the last week or two. Recent efforts have been moderate (hence the 20/1 quote), but the blinkers go on now, and a return to this C&D could be exactly what the horse needs since he's also won at this course over another trip, so clearly loves it here.