Given the sharp and undulating nature of Catterick, course and distance winners are always of interest there.

Blunham, who won over seven furlongs from a poor draw in maiden company at this course last year, is fancied to repeat the feat in the Saffie Joseph & Sons Handicap over that trip this afternoon.

Michael Chapman's gelding ran better than the result suggests at Beverley on his last start but one as he had a poor draw and was not beaten far after racing up with the strong pace throughout.

My selection was anything but disgraced last time, when upped to a mile behind Alchemist Master, who had won on his previous start at this course.

Although his stall 12 draw is only a moderate one, his speed out of the stalls will stand him in good stead and he's taken to beat Richard Fahey's fast ground specialist Loner.

The in-form Fahey can be on the mark with Chevin, who has run creditably over at this course in the past, in the catterickbridge.co.uk Handicap over a mile and six furlongs.

A dual winner up to this trip on fast ground last year, the mare is back on a decent mark and shaped as though retaining all of her ability over a mile and a half at Musselburgh in June.

She was apprentice ridden when starting very slowly in a big field at this course last time but looks well worth another chance back in the very capable hands of Paul Hanagan and the combination are taken to beat Lazzaz.

A mile and a half on fast ground are the ideal requirements for David Nicholls' Eton, who looks the one to beat in the Wetherby Steeplechases Claimer.

The gelding, who is the pick on official ratings, takes a big drop in class after creditable efforts in classified events at up to this trip and it'll be a surprise if he doesn't go very close.

Blue Maeve has yet to win at any course but he's been in good heart of late and can go well from the plum stall 1 draw in the Eat, Sleep At The Nags Head Pickhill Handicap over five furlongs.

James Hetherton's runner ran right up to his best over this trip at Pontefract last time when chasing home Ballybunion, who has been threatening to win a race for some time. He can go well from the same mark.

At Brighton Sir Michael Stoute's Blaze Of Colour, who got off the mark at the same course last time, can follow up in the totesport.com Brighton Challenge Cup Handicap over a mile and a half.

That form is already working out well and, although up in the weights and in grade, he's progressed steadily with every outing and there's a fair possibility of more to come.

Darryll Holland can be on the mark with Connotation in the Racing's Big Day Out For NSPCC Median Auction Maiden Stakes over six furlongs.

* Thirsk trainer David Barron has his sights set on a big prize with Imperial Sound after the youngster obliged as an odds-on chance should at Ripon yesterday.

The son of Efisio was sent off at 2-9 to beat his three rivals in the BBC Radio York Sandie Dunleavy EBF Novice Stakes, having run with credit under top weight in the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury 16 days ago. Imperial Sound made all in the six-furlong contest to cruise home five lengths clear of Wolf Hammer.

l Micky Hammond coaxed a last gasp success out of Chubbes who now heads for new pastures after winning the Beadle And Hill Claiming Stakes under a cracking ride from Hayley Turner at Carlisle last night, writes RAY GILPIN.

Turner, based with the Michael Bell stable at Newmarket, brought Chubbes with a good run on the rails to lead well inside the final furlong and pass the post with a neck and three quarters of a length to spare over Love Of Life and La Calera.

The Middleham trainer said: "Chubbes is owned by some lads who work for William Hill in Leeds but after running well at Leicester first time he disappointed and this was the last throw of the dice for him."