Imperial looks a dream bet
Owner and trainer Harry Hogarth only has a small string of horses but this individual has shown more than a fair level of ability so far.
The seven-year-old is still a novice, having had just four chase starts, winning his last two, and he takes on the big boys for the first time in the "Vote Keep Big Mac In" Handicap Chase at the North Yorkshire venue.
He upset the highly-rated and definitely useful Supreme Developer at Newcastle in early December.
The runner-up has franked the form since and Imperial Dream himself returned a week later to win a lesser contest very easily.
It is a stiff ask to win off top-weight but he looks one of the better novices in the north and is clearly on the upgrade.
Much of Milligan's career has been interrupted by injury, which has doubtless tested the patience of latest handler Richard Fahey.
But one does not have to look back more than a couple of years to find some absolutely top-notch form.
The gelding has won a Scottish Champion Hurdle, finished third in a Tote Gold Trophy and got pretty close to Azertyuiop in an Elite Hurdle.
He returned from over a year off when making his chasing debut at Wetherby in November, running well for a long way before tiring behind useful types Quazar and Chauvinist.
Although Milligan is entering the novice ranks at the fairly advanced age of 10, his capable trainer could well be able to coax more out of him.
It will also be fascinating to see what the urbane Christian Von Der Recke makes of his first visit to Catterick. He travels from Germany with just one horse, Beanney, who goes in the opening Halifax Novices' Hurdle.
It is difficult to know what to make of his fifth at Pisa in November but Von Der Recke has quickly built up a good reputation from his visits to these shores and he faces a largely moderate field.
At Lingfield, the best horse on display is the Paul Webber-trained Modaffaa in the Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap.
Bred to be a world-beater, the half-brother to champion two-year-old Alhaarth isn't going to reach those heights, but was snapped up by the Webber for 12,000gns at the sales as an unraced discard from the powerful Hamdan Al Maktoum operation.
Modaffaa hacked up when introduced in a Ludlow bumper last October and he was just as impressive when switched to the Flat the following month, never having to engage top gear when sauntering home in a maiden over today's course and distance.
Connections have high hopes the five-year-old will make a decent stayer on turf and if the Chester Cup is his possible target, this should be a walk in the park.
