The Lost Sock primed for Catterick assignment

Will it be a case of thid time lucky for The Lost Sock at Catterick on Wednesday? 

The Racing TV member syndicate horse, trained by Roger Varian, finished third on his debut, and then a close second last time. 

Now, he bids to go one better in the Yorkshire Dales Distillery EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes, where a first prize of £4,320 is up for grabs. The race is the first on the card, due off at 2.15pm. 

It’s not too late to get involved in The Lost Sock’s journey. If you have a Racing TV subscription, then all you have to do is claim your share by registering here. 

Once you have submitted your details, you will receive an email from RaceShare within 48 hours to complete your registration process. 

Here’s a guide to Wednesday’s race, with some RaceiQ hints. 

Trainer: Kevin Philippart de Foy. Top speed clocked by RaceiQ: 41.42mph. 

Stable 4/17 with juveniles 

The stable is four from 17 with their two-year-olds this season, but he was a friendless 50-1 on his debut at Windsor. Nevertheless, the Starman colt shaped encouragingly in fifth in a race won by his stablemate, Sovereign Spell, when keeping on well from off the pace. Entitled to improve but is likely to need a chunk of improvement to trouble The Lost Sock. 

Trainer: Roger Varian. Top speed: 42.66mph 

Shaped with plenty of promise when third on his debut at Nottingham (6f) last month and built on that when touched off by Rikki Tiki Tavi after a great tussle at Thirsk (5f) last time. 

That was a cracking effort behind a 85-rated rival and the third home, Boston Dan, has since run a screamer to be runner-up to Song Of The Clyde in a richly endowed Sales’ race at York last week. 

He sets a clear standard on form and his trainer boasts eight winners from 39 with juveniles this term, one of those successes coming at this at track, from four runners. The one niggle is whether he will handle the sharp nature of Catterick and its undulations. 

Trainer: Kevin Ryan. Top speed: 41.76mph. 

Was an encouraging fourth on his debut at Thirsk in early July but took a backward step when beating only one home in a seven-runner race at Hamilton last time. Drops down to the minimum trip for the first time but he was never in contention last time and may be the type to do better once switched to nurseries. 

Trainer: Danny Brooke. Top speed: --. 

Changed hands for only 5,500gns in the autumn and his stable has yet to have a juvenile winner. However, he is speedily bred, being by Dream Ahead out of a dam who was a 5f winner, and is a a half-brother to sprint winner Diomed Duke. 

Trainer: Richard Fahey. Top speed: --. 

Stable 9-128 with 2yos this term, , 0-5 here 

Makes her debut for a yard which has been less prolific that usual with their two-year-olds this term – nine wins from 128 winners – and jockey Cam Hardie has gone 74 rides without a winner. Nala’s Dream is the first foal of a mare who won once from a dozen stars (off a rating of 48) and, being a daughter of Mayson, it could be that she will be seen to better advantage when the ground turns softer. The betting may reveal more. 

Trainer: Michael Dods. Top speed: 41.85mph. 

She’s bred to want longer trip and made little impact on her debut at Thirsk (5f) in April. Four-month absence points to her having had an issue or two, and will be of greater interest once moving up in distance. 

Trainer: Brian Ellison. Top speed: 41.45mph. 

Has as much experience as the rest of these put together and has made the frame in each of her six races. Has flashed plenty of speed from the front, including when running well in defeat here over 6f last time. Her official rating of 68 suggests she’s got something to find with The Lost Sock but she does get 9lb from him and we know the track will hold no fears. 

This looks a good opportunity for The Lost Sock, with the caveat being that this track will provide a different exam for him. Mossvale Dream commands respect, while Staniel Clay seems sure to progress. 

1 THE LOST SOCK. 2 MOSSVALE DREAM. 3 STANIEL CLAY