Lucky 15 Tips: Solitary ride at Catterick for Sean on Wednesday

There's a nice Catterick midweek meet taking place on Wednesday, six contests starting at 14:10, so that's our Lucky 15 tips beautifully taken care of; and as I've not advanced a mention of Cheltenham for quite some time I feel able to slip one in today - it's less than a week away, dear reader. Flippin' eck!

Sean Bowen is in action at Catterick today - a generational talent with over 200 winners this current jumps season, attracting enormous praise and admiration. Number of Cheltenham Festival winners so far in his career? Precisely none. Reckon that stat won't survive the week ...

Horse Racing odds

14:10 - Mermaids Cove @ 6/5

1m 7.5f claiming hurdle, and a selection well treated by the race conditions.

James Owen sends his seven-year-old mare Mermaids Cove up from Newmarket, and she has recorded seven wins so far over timber after 24 runs in this discipline.

She's rated slightly higher over fences (124 against 116), but in two runs she's yet to score and was beaten a long way.

She carries 11st 7lb today, and Alex Chadwick takes off a handy 3lb too. Given that official rating of 116, she carries the same weight as, for example, others rated 102, 103, 106, and so on.

Obvious rival Pigeon House carries 12st, but is only officially rated 4lb superior - yet must concede 7lb (a little more in reality given the jockey's claim of 3lb).

So - plenty of room for optimism, and in this very modest affair a first success since November could be on the cards - and the same man is on board this afternoon.

14:40 - Flying Pimpernel @ 5/2

Jo's Secret will be very popular as it's Sean Bowen's only booked ride on the card. Trainer Tony Martin raids from County Meath and the horse needs to overcome an absence of 316 days to prevail.

She's gone close a few times in her four career starts, but I'm opposing her this afternoon with the five-year-old Elusive Pimpernel mare Flying Pimpernel.

Three runs only so far, all in bumpers, so she makes her hurdling bow today. She's shown definite signs of ability, especially a career-high last time 79 days ago at Plumpton (close third), with the sixth-placed horse subsequently winning next time in another bumper at Wincanton, by 8l.

Gavin Sheehan rides for Jamie Snowden, and they are a potent combination. They'll need to be to keep Bowen and Martin at bay in this 1m 7.5f maiden.

15:10 - Shadowfax Of Rohan @ 2/1

Same minimum trip, but handicap chasers this time.

The selection is Shadowfax Of Rohan, who joined trainer Patrick Neville only a couple of weeks ago and ran for him (first outing for 248 days) at this track, winning in this grade by 4.5l, making all.

The six-year-old gelding is up 7lb, but winning jockey Charlie Maggs (claims 3lb) is once again on board and after the break, a summer wind op and the change of scenery, he might be in a position to go on a little run if campaigned shrewdly.

16:40 - Luna Lux @ 9/4

Trainer Anthony Honeyball makes the long trip up from Dorset with a four-year-old Masked Marvel filly returning to the scene of her only start to date - a 13l third in a similar bumper at this minimum trip 42 days ago.

Luna Lux hails then from a yard that do well in this sphere and she's got a superb horseman on top; Sam Twiston-Davies, another big name with just the one booked ride.

This time I'm very definitely taking the hint.

The selection was favourite for that debut run which is encouraging, even if she was well beaten. Returning, and with Sam renewing the partnership despite having no other commitments on the card, further fans the flames of ambition!

Should be a delightful afternoon of proper grass roots jumping in a beautiful rural setting, with some of the very best jocks in the land in attendance.

If all four of our selections won, today's notional 50p win Lucky 15, at the prices indicated (they can of course fluctuate), would return around £120 for a £7.50 total stake. If you can improve upon our selections (of course you can) - then go for it!

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Lucky 15 tips with Betfred Insights.