3:50 – Catterick – TURFTV.CO.UK HANDICAP (CLASS 5) (3yo 0-75) Soft 5f212y
Baltic Bomber was only put up 3lbs for his Redcar Maiden Handicap win on his last appearance and the 3 year old bay gelding should have a big say in testing ground at Catterick this afternoon.
John Quinn who trains Baltic Bomber would appear to have placed him well in a 0 to 75 Handicap as his Official Rating is just 60 which means that he receives between 2lbs and 15lbs off the entire field in what is currently described at Soft ground.
Baltic Bomber had a fairly busy time of it last season when he ran six times. His first five runs were in Maiden races and he failed to even be placed on any of his runs. His final run of the season was in a Nursery (2 year old handicap race) and it proved to be his best run of the season as although he finished 4th he looked to have a decent chance of winning before a narrow gap he was going through closed and stopped his run inside the final furlong.
He has only run twice this season with his seasonal reappearance at Beverley being a very poor run when he finished 11th of 12 over an extended 7 furlongs at Beverley in Soft ground. He made amends in decent fashion at Redcar last time out when he won a Class 5 Maiden Handicap in creditable fashion, given that he was having plenty of use made of him throughout the race. His win was over 5 furlongs but the manner of his win in Soft ground coupled with the way he was staying on at the end suggested that 6 furlongs is within his compass.
He runs over 6 furlongs for the first time today and a combination of his light weight, soft ground form and stamina should give him a decent chance of following up. On his only other run at Catterick he appeared to take to the track when he ran his best race as a 2 year old at the end of last season. Baltic Bomber looks to have some improvement left in him and it is amazing what a difference a win can make to a horse and he is expected to go very close again today.
