Catterick - Monday 22nd June 2026
MINZELLE was a beaten favourite when third on her racecourse bow at Haydock behind Sea Venture, who wasn't disgraced in the Chesham at Royal Ascot, and the drop to 5f appears to be the right move for Karl Burke's filly. Roots In Touche has to be respected based on her second in the Hilary Needler at Beverley, while Calef and Miss Tuite appeal most of the remainder.
Wen Moon has been knocking on the door with placed efforts at Carlisle and Ripon and is expected to be competitive once again off the same mark. Tees Aggregates' recent form has also been fairly consistent, but the unexposed POLKA appears the one to side with. Julie Camacho's filly caused a surprise when scoring as the outsider of the field at Newcastle in February and an opening figure of 69 looks very workable.
Rivera Queen wasn't at all disgraced on her first start in a handicap when fourth at Brighton and is likely to step forward from that display. Long Shot drops back to 6f following a brace of solid efforts at Redcar, but this might be the time to catch BATTENBURG BELLE. After three seconds, the booking of Cieren Fallon might just help to make the difference required to see her get off the mark.
YORKSHIRE QUEEN finished a length and a place behind Homestrait when third at Musselburgh and reopposes on 2lb better terms. With Clifford Lee booked, the daughter of Inns Of Court could overturn that form to strike. Velvet Rhythm has gone off the boil slightly since completing a double at the chief expense of Homestrait over C&D in May and needs to bounce back.
VALLEY OF FLOWERS ran a lot better than the market suggested she would when taking the silver medal home in a stronger event at Thirsk and is just 1lb higher. This step back up in distance shouldn't pose her any problems and she is the one to beat. Course winner Arrange was well beaten into sixth at Thirsk on her most recent start, but she will find this easier and needs considering. Twilight Safari looks up against it.
Sanditon won nicely in a classified stakes at Wolverhampton at the start of the month and has to be considered back in handicap company. C&D winner Emerald Army is another to note, but CAPTAIN CESS suffered a troubled passage when a close third at Wetherby on his first outing for Declan Carroll and, if getting a smoother run, he could be the one to beat.
Roots In Touche sets the standard after finishing strongly when runner up over 5f on debut. However MINZELLE ran a big race under an overly aggressive ride over 6f first time out and is chosen instead. She went off a short price that day and is likely capable of better dropped in distance. Calef left her debut form behind last time and would also be a danger if allowed to dictate.
TEES AGGREGATES has generally been in good form this term but has dropped to just 1lb above his last winning mark. With the return to quicker ground in his favour he is picked to defeat the largely consistent Our Absent Friends who went a bit too fast last time. Albegone hasn't won in some time but he has been hinting at a revival recently and can't be discounted off his current rating either.
Battenburg Belle is likely to prove popular after a string of runner up efforts recently including off this mark. Her penultimate run has been boosted so she is respected but she is in danger of becoming frustrating. RIVERA QUEEN caught the eye when flying home from a poor position on her handicap debut and is chosen to build on that here. The headgear she wore that day is retained and she looks on a generous mark judged on her debut form. Long Shot was lit up by the blinkers last time over 7f but arrives in decent form and is also a threat dropping back in distance.
The inconsistent YORKSHIRE QUEEN is only 1lb higher than when placing last time and is chosen to gain a first victory here. She isn't fully exposed over 7f and has a decent draw from which to attack. Velvet Rhythm is her likely competition for the lead and she is worth forgiving her latest run where she did too much too soon. She was in excellent form prior to that and looks the biggest danger to the selection. Homestrait has been in good form of late including over this C&D and should also be thereabouts at the finish.
TREASURE ISLANDS was a game winner on his first attempt at 2m and has held his form well in defeat since. He placed off this mark in a stronger race than this last time and should be tough to beat here. Veteran Valley Of Flowers looks the obvious dangers having returned to form when runner up last time. She is thrown in on her best efforts but is on a long losing run and she has thrown away multiple good opportunities. Arrange is another who probably isn't the force of old but is dangerous to dismiss off a much reduced mark.
CAPTAIN CESS can make amends for an unlucky defeat last time and shed his maiden tag. He managed to place off this mark at Windsor despite meeting trouble and he's unexposed over this slightly longer trip of 7f. Sanditon ended a poor spell with a win in a weak contest last time but remains well treated on his best efforts returned to handicaps. The top weight looks the biggest threat ahead of Rain Cap who had been running back into form until being hampered last time.
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