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Handicap debut for Act Of Violence
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Mersea down to a mark she could be winning from
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11/26.50 and 5/16.00 chances make up today's Catterick double
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Catterick - 16:27: Back Act Of Violence
Heavy ground and rain is the order of the day at Catterick and the 6f Handicap looks one of the more interesting races on the card for the three year olds.
Act Of Violence isn't the most attractive name for a horse but he has course and distance winning form from his second start last season and off 74, he runs off top weight here.
He was quite a late starter for his first run in 2023 and a couple of winners came out of his Thirsk debut with the second and fifth both scoring subsequently.
His Catterick win came in September, in a smaller field and I liked the way he finished off his race there in soft conditions. His penultimate furlong was the quickest of the entire race, and with him seemingly handling the ground well, hopefully he will act in this deeper surface.
Watching the replays of his race, he looks a horse with a bit of size about him too. And Tim Easterby wouldn't have masses of 2yo winners, so it bodes well for his future that he scored last term.
Catterick - 17:00: Back Mersea
Grant Tuer's Mersea lost her way a little last season after promising campaign in 2022, but like most 2yos who show ability and win races, she struggled to get to grips with her mark.
At one stage she was an 85-rated 2yo and was good enough to win a York Novice on decent ground. She even tried her hand in Listed company.
She did win at Carlisle last season from a higher mark than today's and made the running on that occasion, albeit with a soft lead.
Her mark today of 69 looks lenient, and she's better than she showed last time at Wolverhampton, but that was over 7f off a break of 117 days, and it could have been needed.
A nice positive start here from the front back down to her best trip of 6f are plusses today.