Midweek Talking Turf - August 24th Catterick and Chepstow

After a great week at York, where our nap on Saturday Opinion Poll (3/1) completed back to back victories in the Lonsdale Cup and Twice Over (11/2) won the Juddmonte International, made it a great week for followers, and long may it continue.

Racing this Wednesday is another is interesting mix, with all weather action from Kempton and Wolverhampton in the evening and a summer jumps card at Worcester plus flat meetings at Chepstow and Catterick in the afternoon.

The jockey of the moment is the golden girl of racing, The Head Turner, Hayley Turner, who has won successive group one sprint races. Last week she followed up her July Cup win on Dream Ahead for David Simcock with a Nunthorpe Stakes win on Margot Did for her boss, Michael Bell.

She goes to Chepstow on Wednesday to ride for Marcus Tregoning, for whom she won the Totesport Mile aboard Boom and Bust. Her rides include CAVALIERO, who has finished placed in each of his three maiden efforts so far this season. The son of Derby winner Sir Percy can finally go one better in this one mile maiden contest.

Turner looks to have another cracking ride on hat-trick seeking SWENDAB. The gelding has been very good to his followers this season, showing his resilience in game victories over the minimum trip at Windsor and Doncaster on his last two starts. He carries a 6lb penalty for his most recent win, but his win last time was cosy enough to suggest he is still ‘well in’ with the handicapper.

I always like to see horses returning to the ‘scene of their crime’ when winning a race and going on to attempt defending their crown the following year and MR WOLF aims to do this in the 6f handicap at 4.20. Mr Wolf won the race last year off a mark of 73 with Barry McHugh on board.

Coming back this year, he is off a mark of 70, with the same jockey, and some decent form with him. His last two runs over five furlongs, he finished second beaten by a neck at Pontefract, and although disappointing when a beaten favourite at the same track a week later, there looks to be more to come and could be the value selection in a trappy handicap.

Lady Bayside is another runner in a tough handicap but she loosk to be an improver and I give her a cracking shout in the 3:00 at Chepstow. The well bred filly has improved with every run this season, progressing in maidens, before being stepped up in trip in handicap company. She then reverted to a maiden and ran out a comfortable winner, keeping on well over seven furlongs. This has led to her being upped in trip to a mile, and the stronger test of stamina should definitely suit for the Chepstow specialist who, in four runs, has never been unplaced here.

2.30 Chepstow – Cavaliero (Nap)

3.00 Chepstow – Lady Bayside (Ew)

4.00 Chepstow – Swendab

4.20 Catterick – Mr Wolf (Ew)