Crawford leads Irish challenge with Catleen Catleen heads the Irish challenge at Newcastle today when the bumper runner-up from Sedgefield debuts over hurdles under Peter Buchanan in the Gosforth Decorating And Building Services Mares' Maiden Hurdle at 2.40. From the family of On The Other Hand, this daughter of Craigsteel was part of a double for Larne handler, Stuart Crawford (a former top eventing rider) when she landed a Loughanmore point-to-point under Derek O'Connor (part of a five-timer that day for him) in April 2009. Crawford explained this morning: "I rode in the World Equestrian Games for the Irish team in 1998 and I won a gold medal at European level in the young riders in 1995. We had plenty of good luck. "I'm into thoroughbreds one hundred per cent now though. I sold my last event horse at the end of the year. We've got mostly point-to-pointers. I've had a few winners across the water in England, I think I've had five from about twenty or twenty five runners. Hopefully we'll keep the strike rate going here today. "I'll walk around the track when I get there - I'm sure it'll take plenty of getting. Catleen has run well enough in her point-to-points. She ran a couple of times at Tyrella on goodish ground. However the last day she ran at Sedgefield it was fairly soft so hopefully she'll handle it alright. "Newcastle is handy enough for us to get across to. I live in Larne, just by the ferry, so it probably is as close for me to go there as it is to go to Punchestown. It's fairly convenient. "I don't like running my horses against each other but I have Maolisa in that race too. It doesn't look the strongest affair though, so I felt they both should go and take their chances. I would hope Maolisa might make the frame too. Hopefully the pair should be up to running good enough races." Liam Lennon has Glen Innis Lady in this two mile six furlong contest with James O'Farrell booked to ride. The same pair then combine with Best China half an hour later in the 3.10, the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide 2010 Handicap Chase. The Irish challenge is completed by Joe Magee's Sadler's Cove (again with James O'Farrell in the plate) in the 3.40, the Jennings Mazda (Sunderland) Handicap Hurdle. Meanwhile John 'Shark' Hanlon, fresh from his big win with Luska Lad at Gowran on Saturday, sends Great Knight to Southwell for the opener at 2.00, the Bet Champions League Football - Betdaq Handicap. Chris Catlin will don the silks of Hanlon's partner, Rachel O'Neill, on this five-year-old.
