Catterick Preview: Regal Dan can reign supreme

Regal Dan has slipped to a dangerous mark, and can take advantage to score an overdue success in the 7f handicap at Catterick today (16:20).

The gelding has just one success to his name, and that came in a class 2 contest at Doncaster off a mark of 81 back in September 2012 when trained by Charlie Hills.

However, the five-year-old has run a number of solid races to make the frame and having been rated as high as 89 is now running off just 80.

That is 1lb lower than when last successful and gives Regal Dan major claims from a handicapping perspective on just his second start for trainer David O’Meara.

O’Meara has an excellent record with acquisitions from other yards, and Regal Dan is just the type to excel for the shrewd Yorkshire handler.

This also doesn’t look the strongest of class 3 contests, and another plus is that Regal Dan has a good record fresh so first time up may be the best time to catch him.

Lady Poppy caught the eye on her seasonal reappearance and looks weighted to take all the beating in the 5f handicap (14:35) if building on that effort.

The mare kept on from off the pace to finish a never nearer 1 1/2 length fourth of 13 to Lazy Sioux over course and distance two weeks ago, leaving the impression that she was ring rusty and needed the outing as she usually races up with the pace.

That run should have blow the cobwebs and put Lady Poppy spot on for this, and off a rating of 60 she is just 2lb higher than when last successful at Thirsk when showing plenty of early dash before staying on strongly to land a 17-runner affair by 3/4 of a length.