Catterick preview: Rock weighted to have the last Laugh

Trainer Mick Appleby does well with his runners at Catterick, and Laughing Rock looks weighted to provide him with another success in the 6f handicap there today (16.10).

The Newark-based handler has a strike rate of just over 23.5 per cent at the venue in the past 12 months, saddling four winners and five placed from 17 runners.

In Laughing Rock, he has a mare who has been given a massive chance by the handicapper and is thrown-in at the weights on the pick of her form.

The five-year-old has notched both her career successes on the turf, with the last of those coming off a mark of 56 in a class 5 contest at Leicester back in July 2013.

Laughing Rock went on to finish a solid third in a class 4 contest over 6f at the same venue off 63, and has largely been campaigned on the all-weather since.

The daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar has raced just once on the the turf in 11 subsequent outings, and that saw her finish a running-on never nearer fifth of 12 at Nottingham four starts back off 59.

Laughing Rock is now able to race in this class 6 affair off just 53, her lowest ever turf rating, and that gives her major claims from a handicapping perspective in a race which should be run to suit.

In the 7f handicap (15.40), Swift Approval looks decent value to land the spoils following an eye-catching run last time out.

The Kevin Ryan trained gelding has posted some solid efforts this season, finishing runner-up at Haydock off a mark of 79 on good-to-soft ground and a decent staying on fourth in a class 3 affair over 6f at Pontefract off 82.

Swift Approval is now able to race in this class 4 contest of what looks a very workable mark of 81, after shaping far better than his finishing position suggests when last of six at Beverley last time out.

After being held-up off the pace, the three-year-old made good headway a furlong from home when denied a clear run and after being switched left and then right ended up with nowhere to go.

In the end Swift Approval got beat just 1 3/4 lengths, and granted a clear run he may well have won.

It was an effort which suggested the son of Approve was ready to strike, and this looks a nice opportunity for Swift Approval to get back on the winning trail.

Selections:
14.10: Harmonic Wave
14.40: Musharrif
15.10: Generous Dream
15.40: Swift Approval (NB)
16.10: Laughing Rock (NAP)
16.40: Multellie
17.15: Keep It Dark