On The Beach

Good morning all,

Looking forward to a day at the beach today, with Southwell taking centre stage. Laughably, I've been asked to do the Punters Panel preview before racing, so in the spirit of that, I've previewed three races on the main piece today.

12.50 – 5f Handicap

The first of two 5f races on the card, and there’s one from the Eyecatchers list here, with Hey Ho Let’s Go the horse in question. He ran well from a bad draw here last time, doing best of those drawn high, and this time he’s pulled a much better draw in stall 1.

In the sprint here on Tuesday night, stall 1 beat stall 2 again, and if that bias is there again today then he’s got a cracking chance of landing this, especially with First Excel in stall 2 to give him a tow into it. As long as he doesn’t get shuffled too far back by halfway, then he should have his chance late.

3.05 – 1m Handicap

In my head, I was sure Railport Dolly had had a couple of runs around here and acted on the surface, but it turns out this will be her first run on the Fibresand. It’s probably because I remember her being with Mick Appleby for a spell that I think that way. Anyway, a look at the sire stats offer little hope – Rail Link has an awful record on the surface, with just the one winner.

Favourite Rock Icon won easily at Wolverhampton last time, but he too has to defy a pretty poor sire stat – Sixties Icon progeny are just 2-40 on this surface in the last 10 years, which has to be a concern.

That may well leave it open for Jazz Hands and Oud Metha Bridge to fight it out. The latter can hang a bit under pressure, so maybe Jazz Hands can get back to winning ways. Ran well in a better grade last time and looks sure to be thereabouts.

4.05 – 7f Handicap

Plenty of these like to get on with it (almost all of them, in fact) and that might lead to track favourite Custard The Dragon winning again. Back to winning ways last time out, the handicapper has been more than sensible with a 3lb rise for that, which still leaves him on a very workable mark. Watch for him plugging away through beaten ones late on. Solid chance.

Today's selection – Hey Ho Let's Go

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Good luck with all your bets today,

David.