Timeform Radio Racing Tips: Caterina looks a class apart

There may no sunshine at Bath today, but has Rory picked a winner?
Rory Delargy makes the case for a pair of promising runners on Monday afternoon's weather-affected card...
With Hamilton falling foul of Glasgow's monsoon season, and conditions at Newton Abbot and Roscommon reminiscent of nothing more than Glastonbury, it's at Bath where the key action unfolds today. The Lansdown track has come up trumps with good ground (and even some good to firm places), and is a great advertisement for the non-deployment of watering as it continually produces inviting turf which in turn leads to very competitive fields.
Best bet is Richard Hannon's improving Caterina in the 15:20, the first division of the BNP Paribas Be Hopeful Handicap, a race named in honour of Peter Walwyn's redoubtable handicapper of the 1960s (that's Be Hopeful, not BNP Paribas), who won no less than 27 races in a long career. This contest looks sure to be run at a good clip, with Uphold needing to dominate, and another quartet - Out of Nothing, Princess Steph, Bolanderi and King of Wing - also having led last time. This should ensure a true pace and hopefully a true result, too, with the selection appearing to have plenty in her favour. She's by Eclipse winner Medicean out of a daughter of Breeders' Cup F&M Turf winner Starine, but has done most of her racing at inadequate trips to date. It was no surprise to see her produce a career best tried at 9.7f at Folkestone last time, and she seemed to relish that relative test of stamina, beating The Cornish Cowboy and Chatterati, with the trio six lengths clear of the fourth. Both the placed horses ran at the Westenhanger track again last week, and both did their bit to frank the form, with Thecornish Cowboy winning over the same C&D and Chatterati crusing to the lead only to throw away certain victory later on the card. All in all, that looks strong form, and given how unexposed she is at this sort of trip, Caterina looks a cracking bet to follow up off a 5-lb higher mark.
The staying handicap at 17:20 is one of the most competitive races on the card at first glance, with many of the field proven over C&D, and most coming here in decent form. There does appear to be a standout in the contest, however, and that is the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Welsh Bard. The son of Dylan Thomas looks to have stamina in abundance, and was handed a handicap mark of 61 after three runs in 7f maidens. He's improved since tackling middle distances since, and got off the mark over one-and-three-quarter miles at Wolverhampton last time despite being off the bridle before most and idling when hitting the front. That run suggests that a proper test at two miles plus will see him in an even better light, and he will get that today. As a , he is in receipt of an 11-lb weight-for-age allowance, and is an improving and unexposed sort racing against established stayers. The dangers to him probably come from within his own age group, with Wayne Manor and No Time To Lose afforded maximum respect. Neither looks quite as progressive as Welsh Bard, though.
Recommended Bets
Back Caterina in the 15:20 Bath @ 4.77/2 (NAP)
Back Welsh Bard in the 17:20 Bath @ 3.412/5 (NB)