Della to Dazzle at Catterick

By Nick Robson

Andrew Balding does not send many runners to Catterick but he looks to have found a good opening for Della in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Restricted Novice Stakes.

Balding, who has made a blistering start to September, has been patient with Della, a daughter of Australian sprinter Brazen Beau.

Unraced as a juvenile, she made an inauspicious beginning at Wolverhampton in March when last of eight.

She was only a 5-1 chance that day, though, so was clearly thought of in some terms and showed why next time out when second at Southwell.

Della wore a hood, although she was still fairly keen, however next time out she missed the break before running on into third.

Balding has given her over 100 days off to further strengthen and she looks the one to beat.

Tracey Waggott’s horse box has not had to travel far to reach the North Yorkshire track and the application of cheekpieces could help her Without Delay go one better than his track-and-trip second last time.

The consistent operator was sent off favourite on that occasion and although having to settle for the silver medal, the front two pulled clear of the rest.

She has a higher mark to contend with here, but still rates as the one to catch in the Racing TV Club Day Handicap.

James Fanshawe’s Surveyor showed up well enough on debut to suggest she is the one to beat in the British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Leicester.

From a decent Cheveley Park family, she was fourth behind a smart Balding newcomer in a contest in which the second has come out and won since.

Fanshawe debutants are renowned for taking a giant leap forward from their first runs so expect oodles of improvement.

Also in the east midlands, bank on Clive Cox’s Cool Dividend to make it third time lucky in the Tony Toach’s Made It To 80 – EBF Novice Stakes.

The Profitable colt has finished second in both outings to date but showed enough encouraging signs over course and distance last month to suggest a first win would not be far away.

Come On Du Berlais can claim a first win over hurdles in the Royal Equestrian Bedding Mares’ Maiden Hurdle at Worcester.

The five-year-old was formerly trained by Fergal O’Brien and is now in the hands of David Killahena and Graeme McPherson, for whom she finished third around the same track in August.

This is a step up in trip and the mare is unproven over two and a half miles, but she clearly has more ability than she has been able to show so far and her pedigree suggests stamina should not be an issue.

O’Brien could be successful himself up at Kelso, with Pull Again Green contesting the Start Your Racing TV Free Trial Now Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase over just shy of three miles.

The seven-year-old has returned to jumping fences this summer and produced his best jumping display to date when landing a Bangor novice handicap by eight lengths in late August.

He has gone up 8lb as a result but in a small field he still looks the horse to beat if able to replicate that fluent round of jumping.

Top tips for today’s UK meetings

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.

CATTERICK: Race 1: 14.30 Gift Of Raaj, Race 2: 15.05 Without Delay, Race 3: 15.40 DELLA (NAP), Race 4: 16.10 Langholm, Race 5: 16.40 Peripeteia, Race 6: 17.15 Castan, Race 7: 17.50 Highfield Viking.

LEICESTER: Race 1: 14.40 Bay Of Naples, Race 2: 15.15 Surveyor, Race 3: 15.50 Line Sheet, Race 4: 16.25 Cool Dividend, Race 5: 17.00 Waterloo Sunset, Race 6: 17.35 Al Hargah, Race 7: 18.10 Hurt You Never.

WORCESTER: Race 1: 14.50 Mutual Respect, Race 2: 15.25 Mix Of Clover, Race 3: 16.00 Izayte, Race 4: 16.30 Come On Du Berlais, Race 5: 17.05 Hardy Boy, Race 6: 17.40 Onnaroll.

KELSO: Race 1: 17.24 Judicial Law, Race 2: 18.00 City Vaults, Race 3: 18.35 Pull Again Green, Race 4: 19.05 Fusain, Race 5: 19.35 Imperial Data, Race 6: 20.05 Jimmy Rabbitte.

ALL TO COME: Surveyor (Leicester, Race 2) and Della (Catterick, Race 3).

For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab4racing.com