Trainer Rebecca Menzies does well with her runners at Catterick and Scottish Accent looks value at 9/1 with Paddy Power to provide her with another winner at the North Yorkshire venue in the 3m 1f handicap hurdle on Wednesday (16:20).
The Howe Hills farm handler has a strike rate of 33 per cent at the track in the past 12 months, having saddled three winners and one placed from just nine runners.
In Scottish Accent, she has a lightly-raced and unexposed sort who could well have got in lightly on handicap debut.
This seven-year-old finished runner-up in his first two starts in Irish points. In the last of those over 3m at Moig South, he kept on and was beaten just three lengths by Lies About Milan.
The winner has gone on to finish runner-up in all three starts under rules since joining Fergal O’Brien and went down by just a head last time out on chasing debut at Huntingdon off an official rating of 128.
Scottish Accent then joined Menzies and has shaped with stacks of promise in two starts over hurdles for his new handler.
After finishing a not knocked about 28 length fourth of six to The Wolf at Newcastle over 2m 6f, the son of Golan caught the eye last time out over 2m 2f at Carlisle when third of seven to Multellie.
Trainer in-form and Scottish Accent looks to have lenient opening mark
Scottish Accent was held-up in the early stages on the outside and got badly bumped when making headway to chase the leaders two from home.
He then stayed on again to be nearest at the finish and beaten 12 1/2 lengths.
Scottish Accent finished just 4 1/2 lengths behind the runner-up O’Hanrahan Bridge, who was rated 115 going into the contest having run well to finish runner-up on his previous three outings, whilst the winner was thought good enough to be pitched into Grade 2 company next time up.
That gives the form a decent look in relation to this class 4 affair and, given how the race panned out, it was an effort which suggested there was better to come.
Scottish Accent looks to have been brought along with handicaps in mind and now makes his debut in that sphere off an opening mark of 107.
That looks exploitable, especially on his aforementioned Irish point run behind Lies About Milan, and the step up to 3m 1f looks sure to suit.
Menzies is also in good form having saddled three winners from her last seven runners.
So, with further improvement also looking assured, there is plenty to like about Scottish Accent’s chances in this.
Bet of the Day: 9/1 with Paddy Power, Scottish Accent in the 3m 1f handicap hurdle at Catterick.