TIM EASTERBY could be the trainer to follow at Catterick today when he has good prospects of a double courtesy of Cumbrian Maestro and Thunderpoint.
Cumbrian Maestro, successful on the Flat last year, showed distinct promise on his hurdling debut when runner up behind Quango in Carlisle.
Easterby's four year old was always prominent and kept on well in the closing stages without troubling the winner, finishing three lengths adrift at the line.
Sure to have learnt from the experience, Cumbrian Maestro can open his account over hurdles in the opening Middleham Novices' Hurdle.
Thunderpoint can complete the stable double in the Aysgarth Intermediate National Hunt Flat Race. The five year old has shown promise on both his starts in bumpers.
On his debut at Wetherby the gelding, although backward, went too freely to post and in the circumstances ran well. Not knocked about behind Phar Smoother, he was beaten around 20 lengths in seventh.
Next time at Newcastle the son of Glacial Storm travelled well for a long way until running green in the straight but kept on well in the closing stages to finish five and a half lengths third to Mac's Supreme.
