Catterick preview: Rock weighted to have the last Laugh

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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

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