Wetherby preview: Double chance for trainer Mick Easterby

Trainer Mick Easterby looks to hold major claims of landing a double on this evening’s card at Wetherby, with the well-treated Hoofalong and Barren Brook.

Hoofalong runs in the the 5f handicap (19.15), and is able to race off a career-low mark following an eye-catching run last time out.

The gelding was in good form in 2013 when landing back to back handicaps at Doncaster and Windsor, with the last of those successes coming off a rating of 77.

Hoofalong went on to finish a fine second of 13 in a class 2 contest at York off 84, and is now able to race off just 71 after drawing a blank last year.

That gives the five-year-old outstanding claims at the weights, and the son of Pastoral Pursuits signalled that his time was near nine days ago at York when a 3 1/4 length fifth of 18 to Harwoods Volante.

Hoofalong raced with plenty of zest at the head of affairs, and after being headed at the furlong marker only weakened out of the placings late on.

This race is less competitive, and with the claim of young jockey Nathan Evans’ taking another 7lb off Hoofalong’s back he looks weighted to take all the beating.

Barren Brook runs in the 1m handicap (20.50), and takes a drop in class having has slipped down below his last winning mark.

The eight-year-old was last successful in class 4 contest at Nottingham 13 months ago when scoring by a neck off a mark of 74, and went on to finish a fine 3/4 length fourth of 18 at York off 5lb higher.

Barren Brook is now able to race in this lower grade class 5 affair off 73, and that makes the him dangerously well-treated on the pick of his form.

The gelding also comes into the race having shaped really well at York last time out in a competitive class 4 affair, where after travelling strongly out wide for much of the contest he only weakened late on to finish a 5 1/2 length sixth of 14 to Correggio.