Thursday January 12th 2023

Miss Nay Never won at 5 to 4

Nap. Eclair de Guyue. Catterick 2.50.

There were high hopes in North Yorkshire for my old buddy Bushypark as a novice chaser last season, but it didn't quite happen for Phil Kirby's charge. Having jumped exceptionally well on a winning chase debut - a race of only two finishers - he was then beaten miles at Haydock in terrible ground, which I believe knocked the stuffing out of him. It was sad to see him being pulled up in a chase at the Lingfield Million meeting, again on bottomless terrain, and since then Phil has tried to rebuild his confidence - while shedding plenty of pounds in his rating - back over hurdles. He showed the spark was still there off his new low mark at Newcastle five days ago, making much of the running before fading into second. So today he is back over fences in the Catterick National off this new mark of 119. On paper he is well treated on past hurdles form. It's just hard to see him being at his peak only five days after what was quite a hard race. Love to see him win though.

Fast Style won at 16/1

Pam Sly has been in rare form recently and enjoys her raids up the A1, so I am interested in her homebred Mixedwave. He hasn't set the world alight with his efforts over hurdles but I'm hopeful it might be a different story over the larger obstacles. His dam, Chicklemix, was a game handicapper for the Sly family over fences and relished heavy ground, so the squidgy stuff at the Bridge today will definitely suit. He gets plenty of weight from the hat-trick seeking Lisloran who Russell Ross of Consett has done so well with this autumn. He's a tough customer but may find it hard to defy another 8lb rise.

You Some Boy - 15.25 Catterick

Miss nay never - Chelm 19.00. Proving a hard month for winning naps all round...

Perfect Swiss 12.40N nap

Mates of Milton where are you? He's got Cobden to ride a couple at Catterick, which must have taken a decent carrot, and they're both unsurprisingly favourites. The last particularly interests me as Prairie Wolf is in my tracker. Not long after he started out he gave a stone or so to Since Day One who has improved markedly since beating Tommy's Oscar over fences tother day. He then seemed to lose his way a bit. He's been backed from 12 last night and is now 11/4. I declined the 12s and am now pondering the next move.

International Law 12:05 New’c EW Nap

Today I'll take EGS on with

Nap Newc 1205 Bouncing Bobby

I was with David on Elegant Charm 6/4

Jessiemac 1.05 Catterick is the nap,well done yesterdays winners.

Brandisova 1.05C.

NAP 1.50 Newcastle - Harrovian

Fast Style - 12.40 Newcastle

OK, with all the flooding at venues like Clonmel I suppose I have to think outside the box.

Elegant Charm won Wednesday evening. 6 to 4. Joe