Richard Birch's play of the day at Catterick
Wondrous Ways
Wondrous Ways, the sole course winner in a field of 11, makes considerable punting appeal in Catterick’s 6f nursery, with the promise of even better to come at this trip.
The filly made light of an opening mark of 52 when beating Stat Goddess by a length and a half over 5f of this track last month. She showed good early pace to sit handy that day – an attribute which many Catterick winners have – and was firmly on top at the finish.
The daughter of Mehmas was made favourite off a 5lb higher mark when reappearing at Musselburgh last month, but was always on the back foot after a tardy start.
Music History, who bolted up that day, looked a filly with plenty in hand of her mark, and the immediate impression was that Wondrous Ways had run more than respectably in finishing a four-and-a-half length third.
The Musselburgh form has received two significant recent form boosts. First, Go On Rosie, who finished a three-length second to Music History, made all at Beverley on Thursday to thrash Almanjoor by two and three-quarter lengths.
Second, Music History, who had run no sort of race as 11-8 favourite on a return visit to Musselburgh, proved that form all wrong when producing a career-best by some way in finishing seventh of 13 to Englemere in Newbury’s Listed St Hugh’s Stakes on Friday at odds of 150-1, beaten just two and three-quarter lengths.
Wondrous Ways meets Go On Rosie on 8lb better terms, which should enable her to turn the tables, and she receives weight from all bar one of her rivals.
It is surprising the handicapper decided to drop her 2lb for that Musselburgh defeat, which means she is just 3lb higher than for her Catterick success.
Bred to improve for the step back up to 6f, there is an excellent chance Wondrous Ways remains a well-handicapped filly and she will take plenty of beating.
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