Paddy Brennan chases pre-Cheltenham Festival boost in North Yorkshire (From York Press)

Paddy Brennan chases pre-Cheltenham Festival boost in North Yorkshire

8:21am Wednesday 10th March 2010 in

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Paddy Brennan, eagerly looking forward to next week’s Cheltenham Festival where his mounts include Khyber Kim in the Champion Hurdle and Imperial Commander in the Gold Cup, makes the journey to North Yorkshire today and can be rewarded with a Catterick winner.

Brennan, who is based only a few miles from Cheltenham racecourse and who rides as number one jockey to Nigel Twiston-Davies, teams up with Otto Quercus, trained by Charlie Longsdon, in the Alan Mercer 50th Birthday Maiden Chase.

The race is named in honour of the former northern Flat jockey, who is nowadays a work rider for Mark Johnston.

Otto Quercus, who showed promise over hurdles, shaped well to finish third on his chasing debut at Taunton where he was only mastered in the closing stages.

Although it three months since the five-year-old last ran, Otto Quercus faces some pretty modest rivals in this two-miler and should be up to winning – and making Brennan’s long haul from Gloucestershire well worthwhile.

Denis O’Regan is in cracking form and the County Durham-based jockey has sound prospects of landing his fourth double in less than a week aboard Mardood and I See A Star.

The former won a ladies’ hurdle here last week and did so in pretty convincing style. A 6lb penalty may not stop Chris Grant’s gelding in the racinguk.com Handicap Hurdle.

I See A Star, trained by Howard Johnson, has been contesting hunter chases and has not proven the most amenable of horses, particularly last time out at Musselburgh where he almost ran out at the paddock bend.

That said, he has run two good races this term, and with O’Regan’s professional handling sure to be of a benefit to him, he is not without a winning chance in the Flat Racing Starts Again On 7th April Novices’ Handicap Chase.

At Southwell tomorrow, the nap selection is awarded to Hits Only Jude in the Southwell Racecourse For Conferences Handicap over six furlongs.

Trained by Declan Carroll at Sledmere, the gelding beat Total Impact over this course and distance a fortnight ago.

Neil Varley, who has ridden one winner and who is attached to Carroll’s yard, takes the mount tomorrow.

Owner David Barker, the former trainer, is enjoying a good run at present and he goes for an unusual feat tomorrow by having a Southwell winner for the fourth successive Thursday.

In each of the last two weeks, Set Back has scored for Barker, while prior to that it was the turn of Step To It, who turns out again in the southwell- racecourse.co.uk Apprentice Handicap.

With Amy Ryan riding for her trainer father Kevin, Step To It can provide Barker with further reason to celebrate.

Racing selections

Catterick (today)
2.20 Nodform William, 2.50 Mardood, 3.20 Otto Quercus, 3.50 Gwyre, 4.20 I See A Star, 4.50 Blazing Bull, 5.20 Chickini. Inspection 8am.

Today’s other meetings:
Fontwell, Lingfield and Wolverhampton.

Southwell (tomorrow)
2.20 Cookie Galore, 2.50 Whooshka, 3.25 Juicy Pear, 3.55 Hits Only Jude (NAP), 4.30 Mr Funshine, 5.00 Step To It.

Tomorrow’s other meetings:
Carlisle, Wincanton and Wolverhampton.