UK Horse Racing Tips: Catterick

There were more encouraging signs from BALKOTIC when weakening into fifth late on at Wetherby last time out and the seven-year-old is now 1lb lower in the ratings than his victory in last year's renewal of this contest. A reapplied visor can only help and Micky Hammond's gelding ticks plenty of the right boxes. Could Be Trouble posted a solid third on his reappearance at Southwell in October and is feared most, ahead of Shantou Sunset.
Prediction : 1st Balkotic 2nd Could Be Trouble 3rd Shantou Sunset

UNION FLAG made the perfect start for new connections when recently opening his account at Musselburgh. The gelded son of Starspangledbanner looks more than capable of shouldering a penalty on that evidence and a double could be in the offing. Stable debutant Latin Verse should appreciate this return to a left-handed course and he's not taken lightly in receipt of weight, while Torneo is worth a check in the betting market on his hurdles bow.
Prediction : 1st Union Flag 2nd Latin Verse 3rd Torneo

Royle Steel justified strong support in the betting market when landing the spoils at Sedgefield last month and the five-year-old is likely to prove popular once more off only 2lb higher. However, FIVE DOLLAR FINE displayed enough ability on his chase bow third over an extended 1m7f at Hexham recently to suggest that he can land a race of this nature, with the step up in trip looking ideal. Limerick Leader and Take Centre Stage are others to note.
Prediction : 1st Five Dollar Fine 2nd Royle Steel 3rd Limerick Leader

Geromino has proven himself to be a consistent performer in recent starts and Donald McCain's gelding is unlikely to be far away, but ARTHUR'S QUAY turned a warm class 2 into a procession last time and he looks more than capable of defying a subsequent 6lb rise. Wetherby scorer Getaway Luv must enter the reckoning from just 2lb higher, while Tokay Dokey is far from out of this despite the lengthy absence.
Prediction : 1st Arthurs Quay 2nd Geromino 3rd Getaway Luv

DOC MCCOY impressed when winning on his hurdles debut at Huntingdon last month and the son of Getaway might be difficult to beat, with improvement on the cards. Got Your Back finished third in a Wetherby bumper on his sole start under Rules and the son of Milan appeals as the type to progress now switched to timber, while others to note include Bugise Seagull and Desert Quest, who switches his attentions from the Flat.
Prediction : 1st Doc McCoy 2nd Got Your Back 3rd Bugise Seagull

ANTI BRIDGIE dropped a significant hint that a race of this nature is within her reach when she was a respectable third at Carlisle on her chasing debut last month. The stiffer test of stamina was a key factor in an improved effort that day and she has a lot going for her off just 2lb higher. Twoshotsoftequila and Shanty Alley both bounced back to form last time and are feared most, in that order of preference.
Prediction : 1st Anti Bridgie 2nd Twoshotsoftequila 3rd Shanty Alley

Defence Witness, Gwash and Iorangi De L'isle are interesting point-to-point recruits and are ones for the notebook as they debut under Rules. The first-named appeals most on pedigree and was snapped up for 30,000 pounds after a facile win between the flags at Bonvilston in April. However, TRUDIE GLEN already has experience in this sphere and shades the vote, with her sex allowance rated a useful asset.
Prediction : 1st Trudie Glen 2nd Defence Witness 3rd Gwash