We have four runners on Monday, with three running on the flat at Catterick, where the ground is currently described as good to soft, soft in places, and one at Southwell for their jumps meeting, where the going is currently also good to soft, soft in places.
At Catterick Visite Officielle faces six rivals at 3.50.pm, in the 0-70 handicap over the extended one mile and seven furlongs, with Aiden Brookes retaining the ride. Visite Officielle had shown signs of temperament on a couple of occasions over jumps, but back on the flat there have been no issues, with a brave third in tough conditions at Redcar, being followed by a fourth at Pontefract over the extended two miles and five furlongs, a trip she probably didn't see out.
Since arriving from Ireland in the spring of last year, Milltown Lily has run with credit on several occasions, just lacking that extra turn of foot to get her head in front. She stepped up to the extended 12 furlongs at Newcastle last time, where once again showing that she goes well fresh. If she is to take this she will have to run right up to her very best, as her handicap mark represents what she has achieved. The race is a 0-55 handicap over 12 furlongs at 4.50.pm, with Aiden Brookes taking off a very valuable 5lb.
Odd Venture has his third start for us in division 2 of that 0-55 handicap at 5.20.pm, with Aiden Brookes retaining the ride. Odd Venture only has an official BHA mark of just 37, although that hasn't stopped him from winning a race at Cork in 2021 when trained elsewhere, from a mark of 45 (Irish.) His two starts for us suggest that running from his mark of 46 will be tough, but this step up in trip could help.
It would be a hard heart that didn't feel for Brickadank at Newcastle 30 days ago when he came within a short head of breaking his maiden tag at the 30th attempt. Prior to that he had also finished second on three occasions, and third on three occasions over hurdles, showing that the ability to win a race is there. The problem with Brickadank is his consistency, so he will have to back up that excellent second last time. He runs at 5.45.pm, in a 0-100 novices handicap chase, over two miles and four furlongs, with Conor O'Farrell on board for the first time.
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Good luck to the connections, Resdev, J Kaye & D Lees, Maybe The Last Time, Oakwood Racing, and A & S Associates.
Brickadank.
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