Catterick Tips: Jamie the Choice in the opener

Flat fans have seven races to look forward to at Catterick on Wednesday, with racing running from 14:00 to 17:10. The going is forecast to be good to firm and there could be some early joy in the form of a selection from the opener, an Apprentice Handicap. 

A returning candidate for Adrian Nicholls is also put up, as is a recent C&D winner in the penultimate contest. 

14:00 - Jamie's Choice @ 9/2

The opener is a highly competitive affair with several significant contenders for this 5f dash. 

Rebecca Menzies' Kyber Crystal made a winning return at Musselburgh earlier in the month and a 3lb penalty shouldn't prove too harsh. 

The runner-up in that race, Liam Bailey's Stroxx, has since won at this venue but the second that day, JAMIE'S CHOICE, gets the nod for this Extra Place Race. 

That result saw the six-year-old go up 1lb but that is unlikely to be enough to stop Tracy Waggott's mare, who was also second on her final outing of last season at Redcar. 

More of the same on Wednesday might be sufficient to see off Kyber Crystal, while Glory Fighter and Let's Go Hugo are other entrants of note. 

14:30 - Tees Aggregates @ 9/2

A runner-up over C&D on April 9, TEES AGGREGATES could be on the way back after a tough end to last season. 

The three-year-old was sixth across the way at Thirsk in September 2024 and filled the same position at this venue the following month. 

Those results came after a win at Leicester and a third at Ripon and he looked closer to that form when beaten a head by Barmyblade on April 9 on his first outing since being gelded. 

Harrison Shaw is retained in the plate for this run and the pair can take advantage for Adrian Nicholls, whose runner is one of the few in the field not returning from a break. 

There was plenty to like about his recent second and a similar effort over 5f might see him home first in this Handicap. 

16:35 - Stellarmasterpiece @ 2/1

STELLARMASTERPIECE won over C&D earlier this month and can repeat the trick in the penultimate contest, a 1m4f Handicap. 

An experiment over hurdles didn't quite work but she showed class when returning to the level and has gone up only 3lb for that success. 

Micky Hammond's mare is giving away 1lb to likely rival Magnetic North, who reopposes following his defeat by a neck on April 9. 

Foster'sisland's third in the at Kelso meant Hammond had a decent day on Tuesday, while rider Aiden Brookes is again on board in what could be a shrewd move considering his gutsy ride a fortnight ago. 

Lawmans Blis is similar to Stellarmasterpiece, in that he comes back in after a flirtation with the obstacles but Hammond's representative looks the one to beat, with another one-two ahead of Magnetic North a real possibility.

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