HOPES that True Magic would progress this season have so far been dashed, but there's plenty of time to make up for lost ground starting at Catterick this afternoon.

True Magic (5.00) possesses plenty of ability, but things haven't dropped right for her over the past three months.

It's a typical sprinter's story because invariably they need the combination of a good draw, suitable going, plus a little luck in running.

None of these has favoured her during 2005 until today's six-furlong handicap, in which she has the assistance of top jockey Seb Sanders, an ideal low draw in stall four, combined with sufficient juice underfoot to help her cause.

Count Cougar's recent improvement on the all-weather at Wolverhampton leads me to believe she's well ahead of the Official Handicapper as far as her turf rating is concerned.

The Simon Griffith-trained mare ran perfectly respectably off a mark of 61 on the polytrack last time out, yet now she's been switched back to turf and is able to participate in the five-furlong Redcar Handicap from a 7lb lower rating of 54.

For the earlier Nags Head Maiden Stakes, Zahara Joy (3.00) might be worth backing at odds sure to be 10-1 or better.

David Thompson's Cayman Kai filly ran a little better than her final placing suggested when fourth at Carlisle in July.

The form of that contest has worked out exceptionally well, and Zahara Joy probably would have finished a lot closer to the front three had not the uphill climb to the line found her out.

Catterick's much more level track should be more to her liking, which along with a handy draw in stall five means a small each-way investment might easily reward those punters bold enough to give this lively outsider a shot at goal.

Peter Bowen's decision to try Football Crazy (4.30) back on the Flat must be of major interest in the mile-and-six-furlong catterickbridge.co.uk Handicap.

Bowen's six-year-old is rated 135 over hurdles nowadays, which is approaching championship standard.

Admittedly Football Crazy was no great shakes when last having a go on the level, but that was before his dramatic strides within the National Hunt arena, a factor that has to be built into the current equation.

The £30,000 Brighton Challenge Cup represents the most valuable and potentially best race of the day at the South coast venue.

With that sort of money on offer it's no surprise to see a maximum 18 runners going to post headed by Tony Newcombe's top-weight Resonate.

Although Resonate is definitely in with a shout, preference is for previous course winner, Otago, who despite getting quite badly boxed in at Newmarket still had the speed to get himself out of trouble and accelerate past his hapless rivals.

I think there's plenty more to come from John Best's representative and therefore have no hesitation in putting Otago forward as the top bet on a busy seven-race card.

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