Treble chance on the Catterick card for Foster winner Cara Court (From Gazette & Herald)

Treble chance on the Catterick card for Foster winner Cara Court

10:57am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Sport By Tom O'Ryan, Racing journalist

West Yorkshire trainer Joanne Foster is aiming to strike while the iron is hot with Cara Court, who turns out again at Catterick today in search of a quick-fire hat-trick of wins.

The ex-Irish gelding won for Foster here last week at 66-1 in an amateur riders’ hurdle, providing rider Lucy Egerton with her first success under Rules. He reappeared at Sedgefield on Sunday in a chase and, not only proved his first success was no fluke, he positively bolted up – by no less than 42 lengths.

The handicapper will be hot on the heels of Cara Court and it is in Foster’s interests to run him under a penalty before he is reassessed.

An extra 7lb hardly looks enough to halt the progress of the seven-year-old in the yorkshire-outdoors.co.uk Handicap Hurdle. Samantha Drake, who rode him at Sedgefield, again has the mount.

Odds of 66-1 will not be available this time about a horse, who looks more likely to start a short-priced favourite.

Sam Waley-Cohen, who will be aboard Long Run in next week’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, pays a rare visit to Catterick to partner Rumbavu in the John Wade Skip Hire Novices’ Hunters’ Chase.

Trained by the rider’s father, Robert Waley-Cohen – the owner of Long Run – Rumbavu is a winning pointer in Ireland. He looks a promising horse and this hardly looks a strong race. He should take plenty of beating.

Brian Ellison’s Rano Pano (2.20) ran well enough to finish third at Sedgefield a couple of weeks ago to suggest she has strong claims in the opening selling hurdle, while Bridlingtonbygones (3.50), placed on his last two starts, should again be firmly in the mix in the novices’ chase. Brian Hughes rides.

At Southwell tomorrow, My Son Max promises to go well in the 32Red Handicap.

The five-year-old, a Wolverhampton winner in December, looked in good nick on the same course a couple of weeks ago when he finished a close-up fourth in a similar sprint handicap. He is expected to give the hat-trick seeking Aubrietia plenty to think about.

Norton trainer Ollie Pears saddles Naughtybychoice in the 32RedPoker.com Handicap.

The gelding was a beaten favourite over this course and distance last month. Jacob Butterfield, a 7lb claimer attached to the Pears stable, takes the mount this time and Naughtybychoice, who has not had a lot of racing and may be open to improvement, is worth another chance.

Mark Brisbourne placed Very First Blade to win at Wolverhampton recently and the sprinter has every chance of following up in the 32RedBet.com Handicap.

A horse with bags of pace, the four-year-old is already a proven winner on this course. Franny Norton has the mount.

The fitting of first-time blinkers may work the oracle on Mark Johnston’s Aryal (3.55), while recent course winner Bitaphon (4.30) is fancied to continue local trainer Michael Appleby’s fine run of success.

Appleby has double prospects with Dewala (5.30), whose two wins this season have been achieved by a remarkable aggregate of 20 lengths. He has been hiked up the ratings since, but may still be able to score again.

Racing selections

Catterick today
2.20 Rano Pano, 2.50 Blazing Bull, 3.20 Va’vite, 3.50 Bridlingtonbygones, 4.20 Cara Court, 4.50 Rumbavu, 5.20 Je T’aime.

Today’s other meetings: Fontwell, Kempton and Lingfield.

Southwell tomorrow
2.20 Xpres Maite, 2.50 Very First Blade, 3.25 Naughtybychoice, 3.55 Aryal, 4.30 Bitaphon, 5.00 My Son Max (NAP), 5.30 Dewala.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Carlisle, Wincanton and Wolverhampton.