Catch is too good for this batch Catchthebatch took advantage of the decision to switch racing from Wolverhampton to Southwell by landing his second win after a long losing run today. His previous course-and-distance success had been his first win for nearly three years but the gelding looked a useful sort as he defied an 8lb rise in the weights, cruising through to lead 200 yards under Stephen Carson who eased him close home en route to a two-length defeat of Cash. 'He loves a straight track,' trainer Eric Wheeler said. 'He has never lost his form but he has got stuck on the bend at Wolverhampton a couple of times before there and at Lingfield the best horse can finish third and I was pleased they moved racing here. 'Catchthebatch is a very useful horse. He is a brother to Dancing Mystery and hopefully he can improve on similar lines to that horse.' All-weather specialist Pat Haslam dominated the one-mile betdirect.co.uk Handicap, with his two runners finishing eight lengths clear of therest. But punters got it wrong as the North Yorkshire trainer`s 2-1 favourite Limbo Lad was collared at the furlong-pole by 7-2 stable-companion Dazzling Rio and went down by two and a half lengths. 'We are not bothered about the order it is just nice to have a winner,' said Haslam`s travelling head lad Peter Hedley. 'It looks like Limbo Lad would be better over seven furlongs and he will run on Monday at Wolverhampton or wherever racing is. 'Dazzling Rio would probably be even better over further. He will run at Lingfield on Tuesday in a #10,000 race over a mile and a quarter the trip will suit him.' Haslam and jockey Tyrone Williams completed a 10-1 double when Soldier Point overcame a slow start to justify 6-4 favouritism in the Bet Direct `Today`s Best Bets` Maiden Stakes by five lengths from Apple Zed. 'That was hard work but he will be better for the race and better on a quicker surface,' Hedley said. 'Seven furlongs is probablyhis best trip and we will probably find a handicap for him now.' Jockeys Richard Mullen, Tony Culhane and David Nolan were less happy that the meeting went ahead as each received a ban for adjudged excessive use of the whip. Mullen was stood down for two days (January 14-15) for his riding of third-placed Indian Warrior behind Geronimo and Culhane got the same penalty after riding Hidden Fort into the same place behind Catchthebatch. Apprentice Nolan was banned for three days (January 14-16) after partnering Astle into third place behind My Retreat in the Littlewoods Classified Stakes. But he did win the Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap on 2-1 favourite Foronlymo, who completed a 9{-1 double for trainer Karl Burke after Greenaway Bay (5-2) took the Bet Direct Tax Free Claiming Stakes.
