Catterick 5:51 Result

Zimmerman is in career-best form with three wins from his last four starts, culminating in back-to-back victories, the latest just 4 days ago suggesting the yard is happy to keep running him fresh off a good performance. Tim Easterby's yard is prolific at this level and his son/amateur booking with a 3lb claim helps offset the topweight. The tongue-tie addition has coincided with this rich vein of form. Top-rated in the field on OR (61, joint-highest with Saratoga Gold) but with much more consistent recent evidence of that ability translating into wins, unlike Pedro The Poet and Good Onya Mate who share his 64 OR but have been well below form figures recently (405086 and 902044) with plenty of blank runs. Star Start is also in-form (321221) and a legitimate danger, but is stepping up in class/grade after facing weaker opposition, and Zimmerman has more scope given his higher rating and proven course business for the Easterby stable. The 1m6f trip suits both, but Zimmerman's action of winning matches becomes the stronger long-term formline. At a fair price generally on offer for a horse with clear, improving/peaking form and a positive stable move (headgear change, quick backup run), this looks the calculated stand-out in a messy, moderate handicap.