Monday 23 January 2017 17:26, UK
A review of the action from Newcastle on Monday as Catchamat opened her account over hurdles in good style.
Jimmy Walton will look for a mares' race for Catchamat after the eight-year-old won at Newcastle for the second time this season.
Successful over a shorter trip earlier in the month when flooring 1/9 hot-pot Listen To The Man, Catchamat repeated the trick as she outpointed another short-priced favourite in Dubai Angel.
Catchamat (5/1) stayed on stoutly in the hands of the trainer's stepdaughter Catherine Walton to upstage the 8/11 market leader by five lengths in the two-mile-six-furlong novice hurdle.
The Northumberland permit holder said: "We're very happy. The race went to plan. We'll take her home and see how she is and then see what the handicapper does.
"I might try to find a mares' race somewhere for her. That might be the way to go."
Rhymers Stone (7/2) recorded his third course win from as many starts when gamely holding Captain Clayton in the handicap hurdle over an extended two and a half miles.
The nine-year-old, trained by Harriet Graham, stayed on well for 3lb claimer Callum Bewley to defy Captain Clayton by three-quarters of a length.
"The owners have been so patient with him, so it's great," the Borders handler told At The Races.
"He was with Lucinda (Russell) but I live quite near to the owners and they wanted to do the horse themselves in the summer.
"They are very hands-on and come to see him when he's with me and they watch him on the gallops.
"He's the most honest little horse you could have."
Alto Des Mottes (11/1) won a dramatic race for the handicap chase over two miles and seven furlongs.
The scene was set when Bigirononhiship, the 7/4 favourite, refused to race.
Subtle Grey then looked like compensating trainer Donald McCain and jockey Will Kennedy for the bad luck they suffered with The Herds Garden earlier on the card, but took a tired fall at the second-last.
That left Fayette County in front but he and Alto Des Mottes collided at the last, with the latter getting away quicker from the obstacle to win by eight lengths.
Casual Cavalier (3/1) capitalised on The Herds Garden's demise at the second-last fence to win the limited handicap chase for novices.
McCain's charge had taken command when he got rid of his rider, leaving Brian Hughes to score on George Bewley's nine-year-old, who was winning for the third time this season.
Uno Valoroso (7/1) survived a bad mistake at the fourth-last fence to go on and win the two-mile handicap chase.
Jamie Hamilton made a good recovery and soon had Mark Walford's nine-year-old back on the straight and narrow to go on and defeat Harleys Max by four lengths.
Philip Kirby's Lady Buttons (9/4 joint-favourite) got the better of her market rival Beeno to take the two-mile handicap hurdle under Adam Nicol.
