March 04 / 14.10 Catterick

14.10

Good To Soft

Racing To School Claiming Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 1m 7f 156y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
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Racing To School Claiming Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

13/8 (Won)

  • Win: £3.30
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 253-52 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
No win since August 2024 (Ballinrobe, 2m2f; for Jessica Harrington) but has finished runner-up on both visits to this track, including when racing too freely on return from a seven-month break over 2m4f (33-1) latest; top-rated, and dropping back in trip should suit; key player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 2

14:10 Market Rasen

Pigeon House

11st 1lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Charles & Adam Pogson

Changed hands in March after winning a claimer; only four ran when a half-length runner-up here a month ago; opposable at this level.

40/1

2nd

1

12th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

20:01 Market Rasen

Pigeon House

12st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Charles & Adam Pogson

Made all, winning unchallenged in a Catterick claimer (2m, good) in March, changing hands for £12,000; failed to beat a rival on the Flat at Southwell (1m3f) on first start for this trainer the following month, and pulled up on chase debut next time; returning to hurdles is a sensible move.

8/1

1

16th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

17:05 Bangor-on-Dee

Pigeon House

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Charles & Adam Pogson

Can do too much in front but no alarms when making all in a Catterick claiming hurdle for Jennie Candlish in March (1m7f, good); out of a half-sister to a minor chase winner, but not bred for this job otherwise.

8/1

6/5

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 3109F8 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Comfortable winner of Huntingdon claimer (2m, good; 13-2) in November; has struggled to make her mark in better-quality races since; drops back in trip after finishing eighth of 12 in a 2m4f mares' handicap (Class 4) at Market Rasen a fortnight ago; suitable assignment with headgear tweaked.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Aintree

Mermaids Cave

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Won by 10l last week at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) in a race she also won the previous season, when beating Masked Dance on similar terms to today's; clear claims.

9/4

1st

3

7th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

14:45 Huntingdon

Mermaids Cave

11st 4lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

7-27 over hurdles, including a good-ground C&D win; not firing on all cylinders since last autumn but wasn't beaten far when fifth of seven in refitted cheekpieces at Fakenham (2m4f, good) last month and continues to slip down the weights.

4/1

5th

2

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 4

14:15 Fakenham

Mermaids Cave

12st 1lb

J: Mr Cian Murphy

T: James Owen

7-23 over hurdles, including a good-ground C&D win; beaten favourite in plating company two starts and pulled up in a subsequent handicap, but has slipped to a very good mark and can't be ruled out.

11/2

8/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: -4P634 BF

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Nine runs since winning readily at Carlisle (2m1f, Class 4) in October 2024; shaped okay here on last two appearances (2m-2m4f; found wanting in the finish); this is easier, even if a few of the others are better treated; no forlorn hope.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

6th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

Byron Hill

11st 13lb

J: Miss Venetia Thompson

T: Patrick Neville

Sole hurdles win at Carlisle (2m1f, soft; from 8lb higher) in October 2024; consistent this year, without necessarily looking ready to win again; third to better-fancied stablemate Cosmic Soul at Sedgefield (2m4f, good) nine weeks ago.

7/1

3rd

2

1st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

16:40 Sedgefield

Byron Hill

11st 12lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Patrick Neville

On a long losing sequence and he was tried in a change of headgear when a below-form fourth of eight in 2m1f handicap here 13 days ago; this return to a longer trip should suit though so he's no forlorn hope from a slipping mark.

10/1

Form: 7

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Two low-grade Flat wins in 2024 (7.5f-1m); well beaten on recent Market Rasen hurdles debut (2m, juvenile maiden; 150-1); connections waste no time by dropping him into a claimer; difficult to identify a positive angle.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

11

(3)

4th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 100y

Class 6

17:56 Beverley

Law Degree

8st 11lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Two soft-ground wins (7.4f/1m) in 2024, but he's drawn a blank since and has struggled on the Flat and over hurdles in his last four starts; has plenty to prove and yard also runs Evelyn's Phoenix.

16/1

8th

7

(4)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 6

19:45 Nottingham

Law Degree

9st 4lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Two soft-ground wins (7.4f/1m) in 2024 but he's drawn a blank since and has been well held on the Flat and over hurdles in his last three starts; bit to prove and he needs a big turnaround back in this sphere; cheekpieces reapplied.

16/1

4th

8

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

14:10 Catterick

Law Degree

11st 4lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Tim Easterby

Two low-grade Flat wins in 2024 (7.5f-1m); well beaten on recent Market Rasen hurdles debut (2m, juvenile maiden; 150-1); connections waste no time by dropping him into a claimer; difficult to identify a positive angle.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 710456 D

Last run: 90 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 35-577

Last run: 83 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Seven-race maiden; no impact whatsoever from a lowly base for handicap debut at Newcastle (2m1f; seventh of eight, beaten 21l) in December; off for 83 days since; rates as an unlikely candidate.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

7

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

13:38 Sedgefield

Jet Approach

10st 2lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Brian Ellison

Unexposed after only five hurdle runs but was unable to justify his market prominence when safely held on handicap debut at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) in December and struggled in a Catterick claimer on Wednesday; 1lb wrong here; needs a good boost from the new blinkers.

20/1

4

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

14:10 Catterick

Jet Approach

11st 7lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Brian Ellison

Seven-race maiden; no impact whatsoever from a lowly base for handicap debut at Newcastle (2m1f; seventh of eight, beaten 21l) in December; off for 83 days since; rates as an unlikely candidate.

66/1

2

(11)

2nd Sep 2025

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 5

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Jet Approach

9st 11lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: Brian Ellison

Poor form in bumpers/over hurdles; wears cheekpieces for Flat debut; Geordie Mackem looks the stable's main hope.

100/1

Form: 9-746F

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Longstanding maiden (0-25); fell at the first at Sedgefield (2m1f; 16-1) on his latest appearance; lowest rated in this field, so nigh impossible to consider on such vastly unfavourable terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

8th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

14:45 Market Rasen

Macho Sun

10st 5lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Fifth and about to post one of his better efforts when falling at the last behind Bunker Bay latest (C&D), not his first spill over hurdles; work on from further out of the weights today even with a clear round.

33/1

9

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

16:33 Market Rasen

Macho Sun

10st 2lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Mike Sowersby

Last of five here (2m2f, good to soft) three weeks ago and now 0-27 under all codes; effectively on same mark from out of the weights today; blinkers (worn once on the Flat in 2024) are given another try.

33/1

5th

5

15th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

15:32 Market Rasen

Macho Sun

10st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Mike Sowersby

0-26 under rules and hard to recommend from 6lb out of the weights.

50/1

Form: -246P6 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
8-59, although his last win came in a two-runner affair at Carlisle (2m1f; 2-5 favourite; all out) in December 2023; latest Carlisle sixth (beaten 15l; 50-1) not overly inspiring; others more obvious.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

14:10 Catterick

Russian Virtue

11st 7lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: David Thompson

8-59, although his last win came in a two-runner affair at Carlisle (2m1f; 2-5 favourite; all out) in December 2023; latest Carlisle sixth (beaten 15l; 50-1) not overly inspiring; others more obvious.

10/1

6th

7

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Carlisle

Russian Virtue

11st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: David Thompson

Has won six times over hurdles, the latest a two-runner affair over C&D (good to soft) in December 2023; a couple of fair runs for this yard last year but pulled up when last seen out in January (reportedly never travelling); others appeal more.

20/1

4

25th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

15:10 Sedgefield

Russian Virtue

11st 5lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: David Thompson

On a long losing spell and form figures of 246 this term reflect that a turnaround of sorts is required; admittedly appears well treated if that resurgence materialises, being 7lb below last winning mark.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.90
Straight Forecast £5.73
Trifecta £16.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Mermaids Cave

Telegraph:

Pigeon House

TOPSPEED:

Tara Iti

The Sun:

Byron Hill

RP RATINGS:

Mermaids Cave

POSTDATA:

Mermaids Cave

The Times:

Mermaids Cave

The Guardian:

Mermaids Cave

Daily Mail:

Pigeon House

D Express:

Pigeon House

Daily Mirror:

Pigeon House

Daily Record:

Pigeon House

The Star:

Tara Iti