Catterick preview: Alaskan Wing to return to winning ways

Alaskan Wing is in cracking form at present and can get back on the winning trail in the 6f handicap on today’s marathon eight-race card at Catterick (16.45).

The Keith Dalgleish trained gelding has won two of his last three starts, and the first of those came over course and distance where he made all and bolted up by five lengths.

Alaskan Wing then had little difficulty defying a 6lb rise in the weights to follow-up at Hamilton off a mark of 66, and lost little in defeat last time out at the same venue over 5f when beaten just 1/2 a length into third off a revised rating of 72.

Although now 1lb higher, the three-year-old is clearly thriving and looks the type who may have even more to offer.

Another plus is that Alaskan Wing runs the track extremely well and is unbeaten in two starts over course and distance, and with Tom Queally everything suggests the son of Kodiac is going to be tough to beat.

In the 7f handicap that closes proceedings (17.45), Atreus can take advantage of a drop in the weights to notch a first career success.

Trained by the shrewd Mick Easterby, the gelding is yet to get his head in front in 14 starts but has run well to be placed on five occasions and often shaped better than the bare result.

Atreus posted a solid effort back in May when beating just a head at Musselburgh off a mark of 59, and was also far from disgraced next time up at Hamilton when fifth of 13 to Amis Reunis off 64.

The three-year-old has since failed to shine in three subsequent starts, but is now able to race off a career-low of 57 as a result.

That gives Atreus every chance from a handicapping perspective on the pick of his form, especially when taking into account the 7lb claim of apprentice jockey Nathan Evans.