Catterick - Wednesday 4th March 2026
Although Mermaids Cave has proved uncompetitive in handicaps since landing a claimer at Huntingdon in early November, she must enter calculations reverting to this company. The seven-year-old shouldn't be far away, but PIGEON HOUSE is slightly more compelling. Jennie Candlish's inmate arrives on the back of a decent second over an extended 2m3f here and he ticks plenty of the right boxes dropping back to 2m. Tara Iti may fare best of the remainder.
Riviera Walk was running with credit but for falling at the second-last hurdle on her handicap bow at Wincanton in December and she sets the standard of those with hurdling experience. However, JO'S SECRET catches the eye as a rare runner at the course for Tony Martin and she may take some stopping if reproducing the pick of her bumper form. Four Decades is heading in the right direction and can hit the frame.
MARTY MCFLY has proved a different proposition since being ridden more positively and a hat-trick may be on the cards. The eight-year-old scored with enough in hand over further here in January to suggest that a 6lb rise won't forestall his progress. Fellow last-time-out winner Shadowfax Of Rohan may give the selection a good lead and isn't taken lightly after making all on his chase bow over C&D. Treaty Boy is best of the rest.
JUNIOR DES MOTTES has been found another very winnable opening and can complete the hat-trick in style. He's got a 7lb penalty for winning at Plumpton latest but, given the manner of that performance, this progressive hurdler should be difficult to beat. East Eagle brings winning C&D form to the table and heads the list of dangers from Beep Beep Becky.
GABORIOT has contested Aintree races the last twice over the National fences and has a lot less on his plate returning to hunter chase duty for this assignment. If running to the same level as when runner-up in the Grand Sefton, the 10-year-old will take some stopping in this company. The dangers are Zhiguli, a dual point-to-point winner last year, and Fix At All.
ENYA gets a confident vote in the finale. She made a debut full of promise behind a smart prospect at Warwick in November and is entitled to have improved plenty since for a top yard. Crystal Connemara took the bronze medal at Newbury and that form gives her every chance, while it's also worth keeping an eye on Luna Lux.
Mermaids Cave comes out best at the weights but she's been let down by her jumping of late, falling at Fakenham two starts back and then making a bad blunder en route to finishing well held at Market Rasen last time. PIGEON HOUSE looks a more sensible play. He's run twice at this course before, finishing runner-up on each occasion, including in a handicap from a mark of 117 just over three weeks ago. That was over further and he should prove ideally suited by the drop in trip. Tara Iti is third choice but has a bit to find at the weights with the pair already mentioned.
I C U In My Dreams won a point in good style and has shown clear ability in a pair of bumpers, including here on debut. JO'S SECRET has superior form in bumpers, however, and Tony Martin's mare, who was runner-up in a point, looks a likely improver now hurdling in a first-time tongue-tie. The booking of Sean Bowen is an obvious plus also. Riviera Walk is considered also provided she's over a last-time-out fall, but may lack the potential of the two already mentioned.
A low-grade chase but it makes for an interesting little contest with two of the runners being firmly on the up in SHADOWFAX OF ROHAN and Marty McFly, while Kelijoe brings a bit of potential now switching to fences. The selection looked transformed by the wind op and switch to fences when making all over C&D eight days ago and he's taken to defy a penalty with him still shouldering a low weight. Marty McFly is chasing a hat-trick and the manner in which he travelled when winning over further at the course last time suggests he'll have no issue with the drop in trip. Kelijoe is third choice but he's been in good form over hurdles, running with credit in defeat here last time, and must have a chance if his jumping holds up.
Hard to go against JUNIOR DES MOTTES in this following convincing back-to-back wins, including at Plumpton last week. He's saddled with a penalty now but stays this trip really well and rates much the likeliest winner. East Eagle is a solid alternative having been in decent form of late and he goes off the same mark as when third here last time. If there's a potential fly in the ointment to the selection then it's Beep Beep Becky, the mare now going handicapping off a lowly mark after three qualifing runs. She was runner-up in a point so clearly has more ability then we have seen to date and the longer trip looks a plus.
Zhiguli has been in good form in points since last under rules and looks capable of going well on this hunter chase debut but GABORIOT will find this much easier than the Becher Chase that he contested last time and it's worth noting he's won his last three completed starts in hunter chases. He's a confident choice despite conceding weight all round. Brandy McQueen is coming off an improved win in a point and will appeal to some but his previous achievements under rules can't match the pair already mentioned.
Not a bad little bumper for the course and it's ENYA who earns the vote. Jamie Snowden's filly has had only one run, finishing second in a juvenile hurdle at Warwick back in November. That form has worked out well, with the winner La Luna Artista since a winner at Grade 2 level, and she's undergone wind surgery since. Crystal Connemara shaped with promise at Newbury on debut and looks the danger with improvement likely, although Luna Lux showed promise here on debut and is from a yard that does well in bumpers.
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