TWO Smokin Barrels can shrug off another 7lb leap up the weights by winning the Happy Birthday Barbara Ramshay Mares’ Handicap Chase at Catterick.

The eight-year-old goes in search of a four-timer in this event having kicked off her winning spree in a novice affair at Wetherby in December.

Michael Scudmore’s charge, pictured, was a two-length winner but had to work much harder to see off Money Maid by a neck back at that track just after Christmas.

Connections must have thought they were facing an uphill battle when she leapt another 6lb up the handicap after that win, but their fears will certainly have quickly disappeared as Two Smokin Barrels saw off five rivals at Kelso last month.

She impressed in winning by four and a half lengths, digging deep to suggest another rise will not be beyond her.

Lough Salt has hit that bar the last twice but can get back on the winning path in the racinguk.com Handicap Hurdle.

The six-year-old’s last five starts have all been at Wetherby, but he showed he can also compete at Catterick when not beaten far at the track last January.

Lough Salt has paid for his recent consistency in a little push up the ratings, but his current mark does not look too testing.

Sam Spinner can prove up to the challenge of top weight in the EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.

The five-year-old has been placed in each of his five starts so far, winning three times for trainer Jedd O’Keeffe, most recently at Catterick on New Year’s Day.

The second that day, Master Of Irony, has since gone on to win at Market Rasen and given the ease of Sam Spinner’s victory, it looked a decent performance.

Sam Spinner has plenty of weight to contend with here, but he looks a horse who is destined to win a nice event at some point in his career.

Lingfield gives apprentices a chance to shine in an £11,500 heat and Lucy Barry can take full advantage by steering Blaze Of Glory to victory for her boss Jamie Osborne.

Osborne actually fields two in the sunbets.co.uk Apprentice Handicap, but preference is for Barry’s mount given his form got a significant boost just last week.

Third on his debut at the track at the beginning of January, Blaze Of Glory turned out again just 10 days later to beat Fashion Business by a length and a quarter with a bit to spare.

Blaze Of Glory could have been called the victor from some way out and given the runner-up went on to score himself last week, the form has a pleasing look about it.

The Excelebration gelding begins life on a perch of 87 and Barry’s 3lb claim is another useful factor in what already appears to be a strong case.

Gnaad’s inexperience cost him any chance of victory in two starts last year, but hopefully he can start to show a more mature attitude in the Betway Best Odds Guaranteed Plus Maiden Stakes.

Sixth of seven on his debut at Haydock last September, he ducked right and ran green, while he got himself into in a tizz in the stalls the next time before eventually finishing fourth at Lingfield in November.

He tried to make all but hung around the bend, allowing the winner a clear passage through in the process.

Gnaad should surely be a bit wiser for those two outings and it is reasonable to expect Robert Cowell to have worked on his restraint a little in the interim.

Franco’s Secret won despite the race going against him last time out, so he is perhaps a smart shout to follow up in the 32Red Handicap at Kempton.

The six-year-old generally prefers to maintain a watching brief before unleashing his run in the dying strides, but lack of a decent early pace could easily have put paid to his chance at Lingfield last month.

However, it is to his credit he finished with real purpose to just get up by a neck on the line.

SELECTIONS

CATTERICK: 1.15 Walsingham Grange, 1.45 Sam Spinner, 2.15 Halcyon Days, 2.45 Lough Salt, 3.20 Two Smokin Barrels (Nap), 3.55 Proud Gamble, 4.25 Only A Tipple.

KEMPTON: 5.45 Lutine Charlie, 6.15 Tricorn, 6.45 Arya Stark, 7.15 Darma, 7.45 Franco’s Secret, 8.15 Black Hole Sun.

LINGFIELD: 2.00 Remember Me, 2.30 Ticks The Boxes, 3.00 Dream Magic, 3.30 Blaze Of Glory, 4.10 Gnaad, 4.40 Burnside.

DOUBLE: Two Smokin Barrels and Blaze Of Glory.