Changeofmind looks good enough to defy a penalty in the British EBF 40th Anniversary Novice Stakes at Catterick this afternoon.
A difficult horse to weigh up, he nevertheless looked above average when he won his only start to date at Chester.
Declan Carroll is not necessarily known for his first time out juvenile winners so it bodes well for this Sioux Nation colt that he was so clued up for his debut.
Chester is not an easy place for a first run – plenty do not handle the tight turns at all – but he ran around the Roodee as if on rails, looking very professional in making all the running.
He did not beat just anything, either. He turned over an odds-on favourite in Silencer, then trained by Richard Hannon and who had his first run for Charlie Fellowes in Qatar recently.
While Silencer is an eight-race maiden, he is rated 93 having finished fourth to Streets Of Gold in a valuable nursery at York. Tom Dascombe’s Felix Natalis was fifth and he went on to win a big sales race at Naas.
Changeofmind has to give 7lb to William Haggas’ 72-rated High Ovation, but it will be slightly underwhelming if he fails to do so.
Tim Easterby’s horses generally need a run at this time of year so Premier Option can be taken to improve for a satisfactory first outing when he returns to Catterick for the Bet At racingtv.com Handicap.
Third over course and distance a couple of weeks ago, he showed that day soft ground is no barrier to him.
Second twice as a juvenile, he still looks unexposed and could be a fun horse for the stable.
Pam Sly’s Special Mayson is the pick in the Download The Vickers.Bet App Handicap.
A half-brother to the useful mare Eileendover, he is from a family that tend to improve with age.
Paul Nicholls is chasing prize-money to break his own record so everything he runs this week is of interest.
He is sending Huelgoat all the way to Perth for the BetVictor Balnakeilly Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase and should be rewarded, despite top weight.
Carnfunnock looks the one to beat in the British EBF BetVictor Gold Castle ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle.
Stuart Crawford is respected on his journeys across the Irish Sea but this challenger has also proved his mettle at home.
IRISH NEWS YANKEE
Nap Changeofmind
(2.20: Catterick)
DOUBLE Premier Option
(2.50: Catterick)
TREBLE Special Mayson
(4.00: Catterick)
YANKEE Huelgoat
(2.00: Perth)
