We have six runners on Wednesday, with five making the short trip to Catterick for their jumps meeting, where the going at the time of writing is good, good to soft in places, and we also have one runner making the long trip down to Lingfield, for their all weather flat meeting.
First up is The Resdev Way who makes the long trip down to Lingfield to contest the 0-60 Amateur Riders handicap at 1.0.pm, over one mile and five furlongs with Becky Smith who was on board the last time The Resdev Way won, back in the saddle. The Resdev Way remains 2lb higher than that last win which was at Wolverhampton in April of last year, but the bigger concern is the trip, this distance of one mile and five furlongs looks very much on the short side, so a fast pace will be probably essential for him to get competitive.
Over at Catterick we are doubly represented in the opener at 1.40.pm, which is a 0-120 veterans handicap chase for conditional jockeys over three miles and one furlong. Justforjames who has just turned 13 showed that the enthusiasm is still there when finishing third over this course and distance a month ago, where if his saddle hadn't have slipped on the run in he may well have even finished second. Justforjames has been raised 1lb for that run, but will have Emma Smith-Chaston on board for the first time, who can claim 6lb.
Our other runner in the race is Late Date who finally returned to winning form at Catterick 25 days ago when winning over hurdles from an all time low mark of 80. Late Date returns to fences for the first time since May of last year when he pulled up, in fact Late Date has puled up in six of his last seven starts over fences. If that latest win has rejuvenated his enthusiasm for chasing then he should get involved, but he is 11b higher than last time, Jack Hogan who retains the ride can once again claim 7lb.
Enfin Phil will face five opponents at 3.10.pm, in a 0-130 handicap hurdle over two miles and three furlongs, with his regular rider Alain Cawley in the saddle. Enfin Phil showed he is back at the top of his game when winning at Sedgefield on Boxing Day from a 3lb lower mark than now, but Enfin Phil remains attractively weighted judged on his Catterick win in January 2020, from a 2lb higher mark than now.
Getaway Jewel was an admirably consistent handicap hurdler last season having being placed on four occasions, and deservedly winning at Sedgefield in April, so it was disappointing to see him finish a remote fourth on his chase debut at Catterick 29 days ago. The handicapper has eased him 3lb for that, and he now steps up in trip to two miles and three furlongs, a trip he should see out. The race is at 3.40.pm, a 0-105 handicap chase with Alain Cawley retaining the ride.
If Ilaya could find the form that saw her win at Newcastle in January 2020 from a 13lb higher mark than now then they wouldn't see which way she went, but in nine start since she has only shown glimpses of that old form. She goes to post for the 4.10.pm, a 0-100 handicap hurdle over the extended one mile and seven furlongs with Emma Smith-Chaston riding her for the first time since March 2020 when the partnership finished second over this course and distance.
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Good luck to the connections, Resdev, J4J Partnership, County Set Six & Partner, Randall Orchard & Partners, Phil Ellerby, and The Golden Cuckoo.
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