Murphy has an eye on Catterick success (From The Northern Echo)

Murphy has an eye on Catterick success

10:04am Friday 5th February 2010 in

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OCKEY De Neulliac looked all over the winner when falling at the last at Newcastle and can gain some compensation in the crusadeex.

co.uk For All Your Exhibition Needs Novices’ Chase at Catterick.

The eight-year-old has always been held in high regard by Ferdy Murphy and won a decent race on his British debut at Kelso.

He seems to have taken a couple of races to learn his trade over fences but was going very strongly when tipping up.

A race like this should be well within his grasp.

Volatilis is a confident pick dropped back in trip to six furlongs for the Golf And Racing Handicap on the sand at Lingfield.

The John Hills-trained colt ran a race full of promise under Hayley Turner at Kempton last month on his first start since early September.

He had to give best to the distinctly useful even-money favourite Admiral Cochrane by just under four lengths, but patently tired at the business end of the seven-furlong event.

Given he can run free – as was the case last time – the shorter distance should suit and he ran well enough in three out of four starts at six in the summer. Although still a maiden and no superstar, he will strip fitter for that pipe-opener and does have a race in him at a moderate level like this. Steve Drowne in the saddle is a positive.

Ed Dunlop’s last few runners on the all-weather have performed with great credit, including Thundering Home, who can keep up the good work in the Bet Multiples - Betdaq Handicap at Wolverhampton.

This is a progressive son of Storming Home and he won nicely here on his latest start despite things not going entirely to plan.

There is more to come and he might be a bit better than his current mark of 75.

The Great Husk is nothing if not consistent and can finally get his reward in the Great Offers At wolverhampton-racecourse.co.uk Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

Khachaturian was strongly fancied for last weekend’s valuable Sky Bet Chase before the race was abandoned so he must rate the one to beat in Bangor’s Darlands Novices’ Handicap Chase.

The seven-year-old has shown some decent form since tackling the larger obstacles, going down by just a short head to the smart Seven Is My Number and winning impressively at Kempton in November.

There was not much wrong with his third in handicap company at Newbury and it will be disappointing if he does not go close here for a Donald McCain yard currently in terrific form.