Wednesday 22nd April 2026
We get things underway after a few days off with the first of three selections from Catterick, and the first of which comes within the 2.22 at Catterick, which is a Class 5 handicap over five furlongs. I’ve come down on NAANA’S SHADOW here for Katie Scott and Darragh Keenan. She won her final start for Alice Haynes over today’s distance, with that particular effort coming at Wolverhampton back in October. She’s since made a reasonable stable debut when sixth at Southwell earlier this month, in what was also her handicap debut. She should be a lot fitter following that outing, and she could get a lot closer here off the same mark.
My second-best bet of the afternoon takes place in the 3.52 at Catterick, and this is another Class 5 handicap, this time contested over a slightly further distance of seven furlongs. I like VINCE LE PRINCE in this particular contest for the team of Tim Easterby and David Allan. He’s a three-time winner over course and distance, as well as having a string of other solid runs to his name over track and trip. He posted a very encouraing effort on his seasonal reappearance earlier this month, where he finished second of twelve, and just a length and a half behind the winner, with that run also coming over course and distance. He remains on the same mark here, which is five pounds below his last winning one, and he once again looks rock solid.
The third and final selection of the afternoon from Catterick for me comes up at 4.25, with this being a Class 4 handicap over six furlongs. It could pay to side with the Liam Bailey-trained DORNEY LAKE here, who’s the mount of Billy Garritty. He posted his best effort for a while last time out at Southwell on the all-weather, when finishing third of ten, and two and three-quarters of a length behind the winner. He’ll have race fitness on his side here, having been campaigned on the all-weather surface throughout the winter, and most notably, he looks very well-handicapped on his old form. A return to the turf could also spark life into him, and this looks like a winnable affair.
I’ve got one selection from Gowran Park on Wednesday, which comes within the 4.48, and this is a maiden over a mile. I’m fairly strong on the chances of PERISHER here, who’s my best bet of the day for Joseph O’Brien and Declan McDonagh. He ran well on his handicap debut at Cork earlier this month on soft to heavy ground, finishing third of nine and keeping to his task well to be two and a quarter of a length behind the eventual winner. He’s been gelded since that effort, and natural improvement coming into his second handicap start here has to make him a significant player for an in-form yard. A big run would be no surprise.
Wednesday Selections
22/04/26
2.22 Catterick
NAANA’S SHADOW – (9/2) (Win)
3.52 Catterick
VINCE LE PRINCE – (2/1) (Win) (NB)
4.25 Catterick
DORNEY LAKE – (11/4) (Win)
4.48 Gowran Park
PERISHER – (2/1) (Win) (NAP)
