Newsboy fancies his nap, Always A Reason, to win at Catterick and also hopes Hardstyle can score at Wolverhampton and complete his Daily Double
17:23, 29 Jan 2026Updated 17:30, 29 Jan 2026
ALWAYS A REASON is expected to take his record over fences to 2-2 with a win in the Jumps Look Better On Racing TV Handicap Chase (1.40) at Catterick Bridge on Friday afternoon. The Rebecca Menzies-trained seven-year-old, a successful point-to-pointer who won one of his seven starts over hurdles, made his debut over the larger obstacles at Newcastle 15 days ago.
Sent off at 9-1 in a field of nine, Always A Reason, who was wearing the cheekpieces that are persevered with today, was travelling with ease under Ross Chapman when making headway to shadow the leaders four fences from home. In front at the following obstacle, Always A Reason came home with gusto to beat Empty Nest by two and a half lengths. The handicapper has reacted with a 5lb rise in the weights to a new mark of 101 but Always A Reason has plenty more to offer in this discipline and can go in again.
Rebecca Menzies trains Newsboy’s Nap, Always A Reason, who runs in the second race (1.40) at Catterick on Friday
On Wolverhampton’s evening card, HARDSTYLE should prove hard to beat in the Win £250,000 With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Handicap (7.00). On the back of scores at Lingfield Park and Dunstall Park, the George Boughey trainee just came up short when attempting an eight-day hat-trick at the former track but is 1lb lower here and a first attempt at beyond a mile should prove within range. FRIDAY’S SELECTIONS SOUTHWELL 1.02 ARLO’S GIRL 1.32 TONAL 2.02 GOOD EARTH 2.32 CHOLA EMPIRE 3.03 TALIS EVOLVERE 3.38 MOON SNIPER 4.10 TIME TURNER CATTERICK BRIDGE 1.10 SQUARE D’ALBONI 1.40 ALWAYS A REASON (NAP) 2.10 AVALON BEACH 2.40 STICK WITH ME SAM 3.13 BUSHYPARK 3.48 GUERNESEY 4.23 KAZAR FOREZ FFOS LAS 1.20 BUDDY HOLLY 1.50 TURENNE 2.20 ILLOGICAL LOGIC 2.50 GLENGOLLY 3.25 SEASMOKE 4.00 EL GAVILAN 4.35 GWENNIE MAY JEM WOLVERHAMPTON 5.00 JODHPUR BLUE 5.30 CAPTAIN PICKLES 6.00 BOSSY PARKER 6.30 TERRANOBLE 7.00 HARDSTYLE (NB) 7.30 FARASI LANE 8.00 MARSEILLAN 8.30 LOVAT SCOUT DOUBLE: ALWAYS A REASON and HARDSTYLE