MADNESS TO MISS NIETZSCHE
Catterick punters should adopt a philosophical view on the racing by lending their support to Nietzsche.
The three-year-old son of Poet’s Voice has been well tried this season, but now looks as good a time as ever to get back involved.
Brian Ellison’s inmate has posted some fine efforts during the course of the year, the most noteworthy of which came in April, when he won back-to-back races at Nottingham and at Beverley.
He was also deemed sharp enough to go to Royal Ascot, where he did not do too badly at all in finishing seventh in the King George V Stakes.
Next up was a visit to Ayr, where he was sent on his way a well-backed 3-1 favourite in a tight mile-anda-quarter handicap.
Nietzsche was a little too keen for his own good in Scotland, but he made significant late gains to finish fourth behind Robinnielly - beaten under two lengths.
To that end, the return to a mile and a half for the Betfred Goals Galore Extra Handicap looks a shrewd piece of business.
His cause will probably be aided by a little more rain but, in any event, he should still be smart enough to win a race like this.
Trevisani can prevail from the summit of the weights in the 32Red Handicap at Kempton.
David Lanigan’s lightlyraced four-year-old had a whale of a time at Haydock earlier this month when he stretched nearly two lengths clear in a decent mile-and-three-quarter handicap.
That was his first try over that distance and he responded with a hint of panache on ground that was very quick.
Trevisani was, if anything, not stopping as the line approached so the decision to step up in trip to two miles appears a wise manoeuvre.
An easy winner at Kempton back in October, there is probably a good bit more to come from a horse who only went up 4lb for his comprehensive victory at Haydock.
Mr Rock might go well at a fair old price in the Danny Traynor Memorial Handicap on the Lingfield turf.
The George Bakertrained five-year-old put in some pleasing late work on his seasonal debut at Windsor last month and should be a great deal fitter for that blow-out.
A small race like this should be comfortably within reach - despite being burdened with jointtop weight.
La Bacouetteuse looks the one in the Gloria Roche Handicap at Musselburgh.
Iain Jardine’s old-timer was forced to sit and suffer from the rear at Ripon last time out, but still emerged with credit in third spot.
Five times a Musselburgh winner, the stamina-laden La Bacouetteuse must hold ever chance on a 3lb lower mark off which he last struck the back of the net
Ryan Moore is back riding out following his spell on the sidelines, but will only return to racecourse action when the time is right, his father Gary Moore has said.
The former champion jockey has been sidelined since Glorious Goodwood due to a non-specified injury, with his last competitive ride being for Aidan O’Brien on Alice Springs in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville on July 31.
There has been speculation of an imminent return, but Moore senior does not believe his son will be rushing back until he is completely recovered.
He said: “He is riding out. I think it has only been for a few days.
“When he is feeling well enough and when it is worth coming back, he will come back.”
The final Classics of the year in Britain and Ireland fall on the high-profile weekend of September 10 and 11, which is also Irish Champions Weekend and the Arc Trials meeting in France.