Luckily the forecast rain in Nottinghamshire did not rear its ugly head on Saturday and I managed to attend the pre-midday starting Southwell meeting.
Jackie Kiely: my selection in the first race was all the rage in the market, however he was not alone as there had been quite a lot of (obviously) smart money in the morning for Merrion Tiger who hacked up by an eased down 7 lengths. Greg Fairley even afforded himself a cheeky glance over the shoulder at the 1/2 furlong pole, but there was no danger from the one paced Jackie Kiely and Altos Reales who were battling for minor honours only.
A closer finish in the ensuing 2-year-old sprint over the straight 5 as Point to Prove improved on his Wolverhampton run to pip my selection Lucky Mellor in the final 50 yards. However, on closer inspection, the form is to be treated with caution as the time was the slowest of the day and over a second slower than the Class 6 juvenile sprint that followed.
R Woodys's speed figures in his previous two races were 22 and 1. Hardly inspiring reading and even the most optimistic punter could not have seen any promise in his 9 length defeat at Wolverhampton some 79 days earlier.
However, all was not as it seemed and only the trained eye would have noticed R Woody was somewhat lighter in the nether regions than his last racecourse appearance. Still described as a colt in the official racecard the gelding operation obviously worked the oracle as he blasted home @ 100/1 to silence a stunned crowd, most of whom held a ticket bearing the name of the well backed favourite Brigadoon, who disappointed under one K. Fallon, to me, he looked all the world like he needed at least one extra furlong.
I was looking forward to the next race and two debutants with hot pedigrees.
Pick of the paddock was the imposing ‘Dynamic Idol’ a huge Dynaformer colt, and apparently, according to course commentator Graham Goode – the apple of his trainers eye.
Dynamic Idol was well-backed into favouritism ahead of the other well-bred colt - Doctor Zhivago, and it was the Mark Johnston trained grey that came out on top in the final furlong to win impressively, despite running green throughout.
Dynamic Idol is worth another chance however, as he was bustled along early, and had to be jostled around the home bend, he finished a staying on 4th and looks as though he’d learn from the experience, the two are definitely worthy of a place in the notebook.
The next race was a Class 2 sprint over 6 furlongs: the race of the day.
My selection: course specialist Ingleby Arch was supported, though not to the tune of the favourite Felday, who duly obliged under a strong ride from Steve Drowne, getting on top in the final furlong to beat Ingleby Arch by a half-length, with a further half-length back to Indian Skipper, the three pulling well clear of the rest.
After five races I’d not managed a winner, but the placepot ticket was still alive and my nap of the day was coming up.
Lucky Punt had speed figures far in excess of the rest of the field and with only Luberon rated a danger; he was a confident banker selection in the last leg of the placepot. In great form with 4 course wins from his last 6, Lucky Punt was well fancied by the punters on course and my hope for 15/8 was highly unlikely to come to fruition as the biggest price on offer in the village was a measly 11/8 - and that didn’t last long.
As the chestnut stormed clear on the turn for home, the 11/8 looked like great value and so it proved as Fergus Sweeney eased him down to record a comfortable 5 length win, value for almost double that.
So, the placepot was won, but with plenty of fancied runners making the frame, paid only a measly £31.
Any return is better than nothing and there was still time for a decent bet on the in-form Shadows Lengthen in the 11-furlong handicap.
The Mick Easterby runner proved his well being with the easiest win of the day, making all to win in a canter-much to the appreciation of the crowd who were still braving the dipping temperatures. He certainly is in rude health at the minute, and is worth following for odd-on backers in this afternoon’s 1.30 contest over the same course and distance.
His adjusted speed figure for Saturday’s race (94) is more than good enough for him to be competitive in Class 4 events, and today sees him trying to make it four-in-a-row, in a class 6 handicap, where a 6lb penalty is unlikely to hinder his chances.
I succumbed to the elements and made my exit prior to the last race, in which Saute was a ready winner after tracking the pace throughout.
All in all - an informative day: with Doctor Zhivago, Lucky Punt and Shadows Lengthen all taking the eye. I will follow the three over the winter, along with Dynamic Idol and I am hopeful of a few bold shows.
It will also be interesting to see where R Woody turns up next, and whether he can replicate his much improved performance.
There was a pronounced pace bias in existence on the day, with all races won by a horse making, or laying close up to the pace. I awarded the meeting a Pace figure of 71, which indicates a significant bias to prominent racers.
Southwell Speed Figures (5/12/09)
Going allowance +16
Race PAR Adjusted
1 75 68 (-7)
2 73 56 (-17)
3 63 75 (+12)
4 70 77 (+7)
5 101 93 (-8)
6 94 95 (+1)
7 83 94 (+11)
8 75 85 (+10)
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