RACE PREVIEWS & TIPS (THURSDAY)

15:10 Leicester Some Finish absolutely loves it around here and has won twice in four visits to this track. Robin Dickin has reached for the first time blinkers today and they might just prove key to him finding his way back into the winners enclosure this afternoon. Charlie Poste is the only jockey to have ever won on the eight year old and if the ground were to deteriorate with the rain and sleet that is forecast, it would certainly play to his favour. Larkhall is lurking near the foot of this handicap and if conditions had of been more favourable he may well have been the selection. He won’t like this ground if the wet stuff arrives though and he has place claims at best. Storming Strumpet looks like starting off as favourite. He has never looked in need of a thrips this far so unless he finds something extra I would avoid. Riddlestown may well prove to be the biggest threat as he loves this sort of trip and won’t mind the ground. He is still well handicapped on the best of his old form and he is likely to make his presence known. SOME FINISH (NAP – E/W if 9/2+)

15:20 Catterick The Doorman ran his best race in a long time when last seen out at Ayr earlier in the month. He was attempting to give an in form Little Bruce three pounds on soft ground and his younger rival had too much left in reserve. Nevertheless connections will have been encouraged by that and he races here off the same mark. Richie McClernon keeps the ride on the JP McManus owned gelding and if similar tactics are deployed this afternoon, they will prove a force to be reckoned with. Forty Crown won in good style at Kelso last time when seeing off another one of today’s rivals in Maggie Blue. There doesn’t appear to be any obvious reason as to why that form should be reversed except that this is a shorter trip which the latter would prefer. Forty Crown has done ever so well since joining the Bewley yard and despite being an eleven year old he looks sure to go close here. Professor Plumpton makes his first start in over a year and is thoroughly unexposed. This will only be his sixth ever race under rules but if fit he can play a part. Big Water makes absolutely no appeal having been beaten a combined total of almost seventy lengths in his two most recent starts. THE DOORMAN (E/W if 9/2+)

by Karl Hedley

Alternative Naps:

Graeme Lafferty – Bank Bonus (E/W) – 15:50 Catterick Rory Paddock – Steady Pace (E/W) – 18:00 Meydan