Monday 18th November
5.15 Southwell - Fariha 11/2
Like the look of Fariha in this one at what i consider a decent price , hasnt really shown much since her re appearance , and the only glimmer of a decent showing came here at Shuvvel over todays CD when she was third of thirteen. That was her sole start here , and despite having yet to win at todays distance a return here could prove to be fruitful. The fact that the trainer goes for the blinkers for the first time is another thing that makes me think a decent run could be on the cards. Willie Haggas is bang in form at the moment with a 30% strike rate over the last couple of weeks and the fact he sends just this one here , where he enjoys a 25% strike rate , caught my eye , as did the fact that Kieran Shoemark takes the ride for the first time and hes riding well at the moment and has a 20% strike rate when coming here to play his trade.
5.45 Southwell - Lauras Breeze 11/2 / Anif 9/1
A couple catch my eye in this one , firstly Anif who has a decent record over this evenings CD , a win and two places from five runs. Was a poor sixth last time but i think this drop back to 7f will aid the cause and obviously the return to a cause where hes done well in the past cant hurt matters either. Has won from higher marks than todays and doesnt look to badly drawn , Tom Eaves in the plate and hes won four times on the horse (and placed a further three times) , if the return here helps i think he could go close. Lauras Breeze is the other one i like the look of , and like Anif i think a return to 7f will help rather than hinder he chances. Won on only try over this evenings CD and has won / placed six times from seventeen runs over this distance , has won off higher than todays mark and she looks well berthed to me. Liam Bailey and Billy Garritty have teamed up to good effect over the last three weeks with a 33% strike rate , at the current odds id say shes worth a go.
6.30 Wolverhampton - Rock Opera 17/2 / Tan Rapido 13/2
A few of these look as though they hold decent chances but im siding with a pair of them against the field. First one of those is Rock Opera who arrives in decent form , was second to the re opposing True Promise last time but is better off at the weights here this evening so im hoping that he can reverse that form here. One from one over CD , and promising young claimer Warren Fentiman in the saddle for the first time caught my eye , been riding well lately and when teaming up with Richard Fahey the pair have a 23% strike rate over the last 21 days, Cant see him being far away when it matters most. Tan Rapido is the other fancy i have , a consistent sort to date , ran well enough when third last time after 169 days off , and should come on for that run now the cobwebs have been blown away. Placed on sole start here and over todays distance , only had the five runs to date (one win and three places) so chances are theres plenty more to come.
7.00 Wolverhampton - Alafdhal 9/2 / Smasher 7/1
Alafdhal has been in great form , having been out of the first three home only once in his last seven outings and given his CD form here i think theres every chance that he could get his head in front for a well earned win here tonight. Two wins and two places from his five runs to date over CD , has won from higher than todays mark and the fact that Rossa Ryan is back in board (two wins / one place - four rides) makes me think that a big run could well be on the cards. Smasher also catches my eye in this as all three of his wins to date have come over this evenings CD , Michael Attwater here for just this one today and jockey Paddy Bradley has ridden him to victory on all those CD wins (also has two places on the horse as well) , looks well drawn and i can see him going close.
7.15 Southwell - Beneficiary 10/1
Another one for the Liam Bailey & Billy Garritty combination , had three runs since coming back from just over 200 days off , second of those was his best effort and that was over tonights CD , when he was a sound enough second , that gave him a CD record of one win and two places from four outings and im hopeful of a solid showing at a decent price. Below his last winning mark i think if hes on song he can definatley trouble the principals. Billy Garritty has a decent record aboard him , two wins and two places from eleven rides , and is another that looks fairly well drawn to my untrained eye.
8.00 Wolverhampton - Simiyann 4/1
I like the chances of Simiyann in this one , could only manage last of five at Kempton last time but that was a class 2 handicap and i think dropped back down to the calmer waters of this class 4 will see him give a better showing , in the four runs before his last race he had figures of - 2,1,2,1 with the two wins coming here at Wolverhampton , one over tonights CD. Won over CD by 5 lengths back in October (penultimate race) and i cant see any reason why he shouldnt be bang there once again. Richard Kingscote takes the ride and hes yet to be unplaced on the horse in his three rides to date.