ROCK ON BOLLINSKI, the apple of owner Edgar Worrell's eye, is fancied to win his third race of the season at Catterick this afternoon.

More than 35 years ago, Worrell was trying to carve out a career in racing, working for Malton trainers and riding as an amateur rider on the Flat and over hurdles and fences.

In the end, it wasn't to be, but although Worrell nowadays works in an office, the racing bug has never left him. He bred Rock On Bollinski, foaled him and broke him in. Furthermore, he rides him out most mornings at Brian Ellison's Norton yard.

The thrill Worrell got when the five-year-old won at Newcastle three starts ago was bettered only by his success at Redcar recently when Rock On Bollinski captured the Sam Hall Memorial Handicap – named in remembrance of the late, great trainer, based at Middleham, who was a shining light in the north when Worrell was trying to make his name in the racing game.

Rock On Bollinski is a steadily improving stayer. He is teamed up again today with David Allan, who rode him to victory at Redcar, and it would be no surprise to see the gelding provide Worrell with another moment of triumph in the first division of the Book Now For New Year's Day Handicap.

The second division may fall to HURRY HOME POPPA, trained by John Mackie and the mount of Graham Lee. The five-year-old has course-winning form.

Sheriff Hutton trainer Mark Walford has good prospects with LORIMER'S LOT in the second leg of the Jump Season Next On Decembver 2nd Handicap.

The four-year-old has run several creditable races this season, not least over this course and distance three weeks ago when a half-length second to Sir Geoffrey in an amateur riders' affair.

He is fancied to have the edge over his conqueror this time and chalk up his second course-and-distance success. Dougie Costello has the mount.

BEARDWOOD may be worthy of attention in the Catterick Sunday Market Every Week Handicap.

A winner at Pontefract earlier in the season, Richard Fahey's three-year-old has been unable to add to that success but he has run some creditable races.

This event represents a drop in class, plus he's back up to seven furlongs. One potential negative is that he's drawn towards the outside – but if the runners swing wide into the straight and come up the stands rail, as they often do when the ground is on the soft side here, it may not be too much of a problem. Tony Hamilton has the ride.

Fahey and Hamilton also have claims with SADIE BABES in the catterickbridge.co.uk Novice Stakes.

A promising filly in the spring, Sadie Babes has not run for more than five months – but Fahey's horses seldom fail through lack of fitness and, as a maiden filly, Sadie Babes receives weight from her four rivals. She is napped to make a winning comeback.

POETIC VERSE is fancied to land the Racing UK On Sky 432 Handicap. Trained at Norton by John Quinn, the five-year-old has course-and-distance winning form and has shown herself to be in great heart, on the Flat and over hurdles, in recent races. Danny Tudhope takes the mount.

Over the jumps at Bangor, TWO TAFFS warrants close attention in the Sportingbet Novices' Hurdle.

Dan Skelton's well-regarded gelding won his one and only bumper last season in good style at Market Rasen in March. He now switches to hurdles and is fancied to have the measure of penalised hurdle winners New Street and Great Hall.

THEINVAL takes the eye in the betdaq.com Novices' Chase. Trained by Nicky Henderson, the five-year-old elevated himself to a rating of 151 over hurdles last season and now looks a very interesting and smart recruit to fences. Nico de Boinville has the ride.

Also worthy of attention at the North Wales venue are FRED LE MACON (1.55), runner-up at Exeter three weeks ago, and Harry Fry's ROYALZARO (4.30), who switches to a bumper after two point-to-point wins.