Tuesday 7th March
8.30 Southwell - Isle Of Wolves 6/1 (Hills,Lads,Coral,BFred)
Quite like the look of ISLE OF WOLVES in this class 6 handicap , has been the model of consistency since December '22 , running well without managing to get his head in front - figures since December read - 2,2,4,2,2,2 .. has bumped into the bang in form Dubai Jeanius the last twice , both here over todays CD , and only beaten a head and then last time out by 1/2 length , that one is now going for a four timer so the form on offer looks solid to me. Another thing that adds to the form is that last time out the third horse home Hashtagmetoo went in the next time out. Has never won here at Southwell but has run with credit everytime he's been here , placing on all three starts , and as i've already said two of those were over tonights CD. Kevin Stott takes the ride and he's ridden the horse before , placing in all three rides hes had aboard the horse. Trainer Harriet Bethell beings just this one to the meeting and he should run his race and hopefully go one better here this evening.
4.00 Lingfield - Vespasian 9/4 (365) - Lihou 4/1 (Hills,Lads,Coral,BFred)
A handful look as though they could take a hand in this handicap but two in particular catch my eye , the first one is top weight VESPASIAN , whose record on the all weather is pretty consistent overall , and here at Lingfield has a win and a place from his three runs to date. Ran a bit of a stinker last time when 6th to Muscika at Wolverhampton but before that had been running creditably since returning from a break - 2,2,3 .. Has yet to win over this afternoons trip , was third on only try so hopefully he can improve on that here. Trainer Simon Crisford has to be respected when running anything on the all weather , and the fact that he sends just this one to Leafy didnt go un noticed , has a 29.3% strike rate here overall (along with a profit of +£14.56) and this season he has a healthy 33.3% strike rate at the course. Jockey Harry Burns also here for this one only , and he's ridden the horse the last twice (3rd and 6th) , whilst im not a great fan of the jockey the fact that the trainer puts him up is enough for me to trust him to get the job done and his 3lb wont go amiss either. Should definatley be in the mix come the line. The other one i like is LIHOU , who hasnt been out of the first four home in his last five runs - 4,3,1,3,1. Beat Dalby Forest last time out over CD by 3/4 length , but was probably value for further i think. Generally runs well round here with a win and two places from 5 runs over CD , has won off a higher mark in the past so i'm hopeful of a good run once again. Callum Shepherd gets the steering job for the first time and hes been knocking in the winners lately with a 26% strike rate over the past 21 days , and he has an eyecatching 53.8% strike rate here this season (and a profit of +£25.10) so well worth noting what he's riding here. Trainer sends just this one and he has a 29% strike rate in the past fortnight , for me everything points to a big run this afternoon.
5.30 Southwell - September Power 17/2 (Hills,Lads,Coral,BFred) - Jubilee Girl 9/2 (365)
The in form Dubai Jeanius is the favourite in this , and rightly so , and i can see him going close here but he's up in the weights again and he's never won at the distance (had two attempts to date) so at the prices i'm happy enough to take him on with a couple who i think can go close.. the first one is SEPTEMBER POWER whose proven over 2 miles and is two from two over this evenings CD , was beaten by the re opposing Kittens Dream last time out but that was over 1m6f and i can see him reversing that form here now , before that he won over CD beating Freewheelin by a length and a quarter. Doesnt look too badly drawn and Jason Hart in the hot seat after having ridden him the last twice (winning one of those - over CD) , has a 13% strike rate over the past couple of weeks and has done well when riding here at Shuvvel this term notching up a 23.9% strike rate along with a very healthy +£31.37 profit. Trainer Michael Wigham brings only this one and he has a 25% strike rate over the past two weeks , and also has a 25% strike rate here at the course this season. Definatley in with a shout i think at what i'd consider a decent price. The other one i like is JUBILEE GIRL who comes into this in fine form , since returning to action after a 181 day break her figures read - 6,1,2,2 .. That win broke her maiden tag and came over 1m3f here , stepped up in distance in her last two races after that and ran into Buxted Too whose been on fire of late (-1,1,1,3,1) both times , think shes gonna appreciated this step up in trip and trainer K Burke is as shrewd as they come , and brings just this one here this evening , has a decent record here overall with an 18.4% strike rate (and a healthy profit of +£35.33) , and this season he has a 26.9% strike rate along with a profit of +£11.98. Sam James here for his only ride and hes ridden the horse four times in total resulting in a win , two seconds and a fourth so seems to get on well enough her. He , too , has a decent record here this season , 25% strike rate (and a profit of +£18.32). If handling the step up in trip i think she'll be a serious threat.