Longsdon eyes first Catterick triumph

CHARLIE Longsdon is counting on veteran Pete The Feat to deliver him a first winner at Catterick today in the Watt Fences North Yorkshire Grand National, the track's feature race of the year.
in the mix: Sue Smith, seen above at her High Eldwick yard, has Lackamon entered for todays North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick.in the mix: Sue Smith, seen above at her High Eldwick yard, has Lackamon entered for todays North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick.
in the mix: Sue Smith, seen above at her High Eldwick yard, has Lackamon entered for todays North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick.

The 12-year-old will bid to defy his advancing years in the extended three-mile, five-furlong marathon by going one better than on his most recent effort at Fontwell last month.

Although Pete The Feat is without a win since December 2013, the Chipping Norton handler believes he can, with the aid of jockey Tom Humphries’ 10lb claim, make his presence felt in this marathon trip.

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Longsdon said: “Pete The Feat is in great form. He ran really well at Fontwell when he was beaten by Alternatif who has since run a blinder at Cheltenham and the horse that was beaten a long way in third, Ziga Boy, has won since.

“Although I’ve had a few runners at the track before, I’ve not had a winner there. We had a great time with him coming through the ranks, but that step up in grade took him out of his comfort zone. He fell a few times, which is unlike him, but he is in the right grade now racing in these 0-135 and 0-140 races.

“Tom gave him a fantastic ride at Fontwell last time and with his 10lb claim it should help bring him into it. It never gets too testing up there so the ground should be fine and we are looking forward to running him.”

The Harriet Graham-trained Scotswell will attempt to record back-to-back victories in the race, while West Of The Edge, from the yard of Dai Williams, seeks a second National victory having taken the Lincolnshire equivalent at Market Rasen last time out.

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Meanwhile, High Eldwick-based Sue Smith runs the admirably consistent Lackamon, who is seeking a first win since winning the Durham National at Sedgefield in April 2013.

Smith and her husband Harvey, responsible for the 2013 Grand National winner Auroras Encore, also hope to be represented by No Planning in the Sky Bet Chase, Doncaster’s premier National Hunt race, on January 30.

However it is a disappointing reflection on the state of jump racing in the North that this Grand National trial has attracted just two entries from Yorkshire – the other possible contender is Distime from the Guiseley yard of Richard Drake and his daughter Samantha.

The 46 entries are headed by the Evan Williams-trained Buywise while Irish Cavalier, fifth in the King George for Rebecca Curtis, is an intriguing contender.

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The aforementioned Longsdon has entered Badger Ales Trophy winner Drop Out Joe and stablemate Coologue.

“Drop Out Joe has had a nice break since the Badger Ales Trophy and is in good form,” he said. “I’ve put him in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster but if it’s very soft he won’t run.

“He is quite high in the handicap now off 150, but we know he likes the track as he ran very well in the Grimthorpe Chase last year. Coologue is the more definite of the two as he will like any ground. He’s a nice improving novice and has an ideal profile for the race.

“He has only run three times over fences and ran well in a Grade Two at Doncaster a month ago.”

There are four entries from Ireland, with three trained by Stuart Crawford. Glenquest, Yes Tom and Man With Van. Arthur Moore’s Pass The Hat is the other.