Fortysecond Street, winnner of two of his four races over hurdles last season, can make a successful transition to chasing at Catterick today.

One of a whole host of exciting horses, trained by Howard Johnson on the novice chase route this season, Fortysecond Street is considered to have a bright future in his new sphere.

Even last term, when he won at Hexham and Musselburgh, the five-year-old looked more of a chaser than a hurdler and his time has now come to tackle the major obstacles in public.

Fortysecond Street is sure to have been well schooled in readiness for his test in the TurfTv.co.uk Beginners’ Chase. A winning reappearance is anticipated.

Tadcaster trainer Tom Tate has a high opinion of Kudu Country, who won by five lengths on his hurdling debut at Haydock four weeks ago.

Given that he’s related to such talented jumpers as Noble Alan and Full House, it was no real surprise to see Kudu Country come into his own over timber.

He faces a stiffer task under a 7lb penalty in the catterickbridge.co.uk Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle, but this useful prospect is expected to take plenty of beating. Keith Mercer again takes the mount.

Simple Jim was twice a winner on the Flat at Catterick this autumn and he bids to add a hurdling success to his course record in the opening event, the Richmondshire Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

Successful over timber at Southwell on his latest start, the gelding, trained at Nawton, near Helmsley, by James Hetherton for owner Roger Fell, should make a bold bid.

Benny Be Good, who made a winning debut three weeks ago, looks a decent horse in the making for Keith Reveley, but he comes up against at least one other useful prospect in Gilbarry in the Go Racing At Wetherby This Saturday National Hunt Flat Race.

Trained by Malcolm Jefferson, Gilbarry very much looked the part when making a winning debut at Kelso last season. He flopped on his only subsequent outing when unplaced at the Scottish Grand National meeting at Ayr but it would be foolish to underestimate his chances.

Tomorrow’s Flat action comes from Wolverhampton, where Castle Myth is napped to resume winning ways in the opening toteplacepot Apprentice Handicap.

Trained in Norton by Brian Ellison, whose horses are in good form, Castle Myth scored over this course and distance two starts back and has since been beaten only a length and a half into fifth place at Southwell. Back on Polytrack tomorrow, he can regain the winning thread.

Yedingham trainer Alan Brown saddles Fair Bunny in the Cleanevent Nursery and Jimmy Quinn’s mount should go well, despite carrying top weight. A gutsy winner at Southwell, she is capable of staying competitive off a 6lb higher mark.


Racing selections

Catterick (Today)
12.10 Simple Jim, 12.40 Troodos Jet, 1.10 Sydney Sling, 1.45 Kudu Country, 2.15 Alegralil, 2.45 Fortysecond Street, 3.20 Gilbarry.

Today’s other meetings:
Ayr, Kempton and Plumpton.

Wolverhampton (Tomorrow)
3.45 Castle Myth (NAP), 4.15 Taper Jean Girl, 4.45 Tourist, 5.15 Wellmarked, 5.45 Fair Bunny, 6.15 Prohibition.

Tomorrow’s other meetings:
Leicester, Market Rasen, and Wincanton.