Enjoy the Mediteranean sea at Suddy today ..

Seven races on the fibresand from Southwell this Tuesday afternoon for us to look at as we attempt to build up the Cheltenham tank ,with the festival now less than seven days away. The going today is predictably standard (is it ever any other way?) and before we have a look at the meeting in greater detail let’s have a quick run through some of the all important stats available to us.

Not a lot to get worked up about with the draw ,although in races over the minimum trip of five furlongs (ref 2.40 race) low to middle numbers hold a slight advantage. Being with the pace can help too as the dreaded ‘kickback’ can often be a factor on this surface. Go with course form also,quite often you find winners on the polytrack don’t necessarily hold their form here due to the different nature of this sand and wispy fibred surface.

Following leading jockeys can be a useful fiscal exercise at this track. Leading riders with mounts today include Philip Makin ( 41% for trainer Kevin Ryan),Joe Fanning (28% for trainer Mark Johnston) and the pride of Finglas Robert Winston who has a healthy 16% strike rate here at ‘Suddy’. Trainers to note with runners today include the two big Yorkshire based yards of Mark Johnstone and Kevin Ryan and the in form Brian Ellison, a yard that had you followed here over the last few years would have seen you banking  a significant profit.

I like to note certain newspaper correspondents too. Newmarket gallops watcher David Milnes goes with Stand Guard in the 3.10 as his best bet while the respected Topspeed column nominates Bond Blade in the lucky last as his best on the card.

Racing opens with the seven furlong handicap at 2.10 a race where Bryan Smart’s Fearless Poet may well head the market. Watch also for Bonnie Prince Blue, a horse who has been tumbling down the ratings of late and Odd Ball, the mount of Amy Ryan, who showed a reasonable level of form at Wolverhampton on his latest outing.

The sprint handicap at 2.40 looks difficult with a lot of closely rated performers taking each other on again. Punching is consistent and has won eight times around this circuit,while Derek Shaw’s Shawkantango is another who fancies it on the fibresand,he looks for a fifth course and distance success today.

Stand Guard looks a stand out in the seller at 3.10 and is a horse that will appreciate this drop in grade having won in better company on his latest start. Transonic was expensive on his latest outing while a close market watch should be observed in relation to the chances of the filly Clara Zetkin who,if reproducing anything near her best, would be a genuine player here.

John Jenkins has got a good tune out of Mediterranean Sea over the last few months and there is every reason to believe the mare can notch up her fourth track success in a row in the staying handicap at 3.40. Ignore Storm Hawk’s latest effort here at the track he fluffed his lines at the traps and is better than that while the blinkered Irish Jugger had some useful form here last year and is potentially handicapped to win here.

The Kevin Ryan trained Yours got walloped by the handicapper for finishing fourth on her latest start and will have her work cut out in the twelve furlong handicap at 4.10. It might pay to side with Kingaroo in this race ,a horse that has already won three times over course and distance. It may also be significant that jockey Franny Norton comes here to ride Kingaroo,his only mount of the day here at Southwell.

The big two northern stables go head to head in the one mile handicap at 4.40. Kevin Ryan runs Beautiful Day ,a horse who was awarded a ten pound penalty for winning here over course and distance on his latest start. Meanwhile Mark Johnston saddles Colour Guard a horse who escapes a penalty for a recent win in a apprentice here at Southwell.  Eight time course and distance winner McConnell could prove to be best of the rest.

Racing concludes with the six furlong handicap at 5.10 a race where Geoff Oldroyd’s Bond Blade may well be hard to beat. Watch also for any market moves in the direction of Wishbone (stable 38% with handicappers here) and Lindoro, who looks to follow up last years win in this same event.

Enjoy the racing at Southwell today and don’t forget to call us here at Star Spreads on 1800 624 624 where our experienced team will talk you through all the markets available you. Winning distances,total S.P’s,match bets and the ever popular 50-25-10 horse indices,sounds like a lot of fun!

With Cheltenham just around the corner isn’t it time you opened a Star Spreads account. You won’t be disappointed !

Donal