Party Time At Catterick

If there's one other certainty in life other than death and taxes, it's that someone is sure to e-mail the Timeform Radio studio to debate the form of Mark Johnston's horses. Johnston has such strength in numbers in his yard that it's a rare occurrence when he has a blank week, but sometimes the winners mask a slew of disappointing performances from the yard, and even when enjoying one of his most profitable days of the summer when Galician won the International Handicap at Ascot, he also sent out a 5 horses who failed to beat a single rival.

That's the dichotomy of the Johnston yard, with many going overboard when the yard is "in form". Similarly, when the yard endures a couple of winless days, the number of losers soon mount up, and plenty will currently claim that the yard is now cold, having gone without a winner since Broughton landed the Gordon's Stakes at Goodwood. That may be a run of 40-odd defeats, but it's only 5 days, and notions that the yard's horses are somehow under a cloud is arrant nonsense.

As always, the best way to analyse a horse's chance of winning is by looking primarily at the characteristics of the horse, and not the trainer, unless there is insufficient evidence to go on. That's certainly not the case with Party Line in the 15:45 at Catterick, and the daughter of Montjeu looks to be coming to hand at just the right time, whatever else her stablemates happen to be doing.

Party Line, unlike many from the yard, is bred to appreciate plenty of give in the ground, and showed improved form when landing her third handicap win of last season on soft ground at Doncaster. She hasn't hit quite the same heights this year, but the handicapper has given her a chance, and she took a marked step in the right direction when third at Carlisle last time. That coincided with an ease in grade and ground, and she makes by far the most appeal in today's field with recent rain very much in her favour, but less so for a couple of her rivals.

Another horse for whom recent rain is no concern is Solar Spirit, and Tracy Waggott's well-treated 8-y-o is taken to bounce back from a poor run at Pontefract last time. He's at his best chasing a strong pace, goes well at Catterick, and his lifetime record in this class at short of a mile reads 212321. With his odds inflated as a result of his latest blip, he looks a decent bet, particularly as his wide draw isn't anything like the disadvantage it appears at first glance. This looks a pretty open affair, but I'd be surprised if Solar Spirit wasn't capable of a big run at double figure odds.

Recommendations:

Both at Catterick

Back Party Royal @ [4.3] in the 15:45 (NAP)

Back Solar Spirit @ [11.5] in the 16:45 (NB)