SOUTHWELL
4:45 ARENALEISUREPLC.COM HANDICAP (CLASS 2) (4yo+,0-100) 1m
RIO RIVA 9-4 ~ Goes well fresh and loves soft ground so the Lincoln has been the obvious target for the son of Pivotal in the last two seasons. He ran an excellent race this year to finish 4th (2nd in the far side group) but all his best form last year came at tracks with long straights. So the configuration of today’s track might not suit and this is the horses first run on fibresand so whether it will suit him is anyones guess.
PARTY BOSS 9-2 ~ 2 from 2 at Southwell but the Clive Brittain trained 6yo has been struggling this season. His last two runs in particular have been disappointing with the horse finishing last on both occasions. This is an extremely competitive race and he is 3lbs higher than his last winning mark so he will need to improve on all known form to figure. Considering that he is currently out of form he faces an almost impossible task if he is to retain his unbeaten record at the track.
RED CAPE 9-1 ~ Only made one previous visit to Southwell and he started a strong evens favourite. However he didn’t appear to be well suited by conditions and was comfortably beaten in 4th (8 runners). The 5yo seems to be much better suited to Lingfield where he recorded a good win in a competitive handicap over 7f. All the horses best form has been at the Surrey track over 6-7f so today’s conditions are far from ideal. Given the competitive nature of the race he looks up against it but when you consider that in two runs this season the horse has shown nothing then the Cape Cross gelding can be readily passed over.
VERY WISE 8-13 ~ Winner of last seasons Lincoln but having grabbed the rail the impression was that William Haggas trained gelding had the run of the race. He definitely struggled to match that form subsequently off his 7lbs higher mark and it wasn’t until his trainer dropped him in class that the horse managed to record his second win of the campaign at Newmarket. He was raised another 6lbs for that win which took him to a mark of 100, 3lbs higher than the handicapper gave him after his Lincoln win. He was switched to the all weather but after getting worked up in the stalls and missing the break he ran no sort of race at Lingfield. The vet reported an irregular heartbeat so clearly something was badly amiss and his next run at Kempton didn’t allay any fears as he weakened badly in the final furlong. Rightly given a break he wasn’t seen until the Lincoln where he once again tried to make all but off his 9lbs higher mark than last year and without the advantage he had at Newcastle he tired to finish a respectable 14th. That was his first run for 4 months which combined with a 5lbs drop in the handicap should mean the horse will improve on that effort. This track will suit the horses front running style and he was far from disgraced on his only previous visit here behind Gentleman’s Deal. However there is still the concern that the horse hasn’t gotten over the issues that were affecting him towards the end of last year but if he has he should go well.
SILVER HOTSPUR 8-7 ~ Won a banded race at Wolverhampton earlier on in the season at 16/1 so to see him line up in a 0-100 handicap highlights the horses’ progression. His record this year at Southwell reads 1,1,5,1,2,1,3,1,1, which is mightily impressive. However that was with his previous trainer Michael Wigham so the question remains will he be as progressive for his new trainer Vince Smith. However the Suffolk trainer is making a name for himself as an improving small stable to look out for. March was the stables best month so far in his short career with 4 winners and a 40% strike rate on all runners on the all weather. So the Royal Applause 4yo gelding is in good hands and comes into the race looking for a three timer. However this is a considerable step up in class and it remains to be seen whether he is up to the challenge. His last run came in a Cls 5 race where under his welter weight he ran out a comfortable winner. The 2nd Divertimenti has ran out a comfortable winner next time out so the form for the level looks strong but the likes of Rio Riva, Very Wise and Benandonner will prove a tougher challenge.
KABEER 8-7 ~ Fine record at the track with 3 wins in 8 attempts and this 10yo has a similar profile to Silver Hotspur being that he progressed from Cls 5 handicaps into this more competitive company. The horse has been a revelation this winter and is better than ever at his veteran age. However he is unlikely to get an easy time of it out in front and this is by far the most competitive race he has faced at Southwell. He has only beat one horse home in his last two runs as well but that was away from his beloved Southwell so he should be able to bounce back to form but he will probably get outclassed in this field.
REGAL PARADE 8-4 ~ Started his career off on the all weather and recorded 2 wins from 2 efforts including one win here at Southwell. He won a good handicap at Newmarket when switched to turf and looked an interesting prospect but he failed to win again in 8 runs. However he wasn’t disgraced in several competitive handicaps and it looked as if the handicapper may have just had his measure. He left Mark Johnston at the end of the season and made his debut for David Nicholls in the Spring Mile at Doncaster where he ran an encouraging race to finish 5th. With the benefit of a run under his belt he should improve on that effort and as he has proven he handles the Fibresand he has a good chance of retaining his unbeaten record on the all weather.
BENANDONNER 8-4 ~ 3lbs lower than when last seen finishing 2nd in the Spring Mile behind Don’t Panic which of course gives the Richard Fahey 5yo a great chance in this company. He has only experienced the Fibresand surface once before but he appeared to handle it fine when finishing 2nd for his previous trainer Ed Dunlop. He moved to his current stable at the beginning of last years turf season and after being consistently placed in some decent handicaps he won his first race for his new trainer in the Shergar Cup Mile. Raised 6lbs for that win he ran well in a couple of handicaps but without featuring towards the back end of the turf season and he looked handicapped to his best. However running in the Spring Mile he ran an excellent race to finish a clear 2nd so is clearly in fine fettle and looks progressive. So to summarise the horse should track handle conditions, is running off a very lenient mark and is in great form so he is clearly the one they all have to beat.
CONCLUSION
Shorlist includes Rio Riva, Very Wise, Silver Hotspur, Regal Parade and Benandonner.
Rio Riva although clearly talented doesn’t entirely convince with his record and in this company he may need his conditions to be seen to better effect. They appear to be soft ground and a straight track so todays conditions do really suit the horse so despite a fine effort last time out he is taken on. Very Wise who beat Rio Riva in last seasons Lincoln looks to have dropped to a favourable mark but after his problems last season he doesn’t look one to trust at present and a watching brief is recommended until he proves otherwise. Silver Hotspur has a fine course record and without these talented turf horses entering the picture then he would surely have too much for the typical Southwell Cls 2 handicappers. However this is a big step up in class and he has plenty to prove in this sort of company.
The Spring Mile is almost as competitive as the Lincoln nowadays and Regal Parade ran an excellent race to finish 5th. He will improve for the run and has winning form at the track which puts him in the picture. He could finally be able to fulfill the potential he showed early in his career for his previous yard and he looks to be on a nice mark despite being 1lb out of the handicap. However clearly he has it all to do to reverse form with the Fahey trained favourite Benandonner who is well handicapped and has proven he handles the track when running here for Ed Dunlop. His style of running suits the track and he comes here in fine form after his 2nd in the Spring Mile. That run hinted that the horse is on the upgrade but even if he just reproduces that form he should prove hard to beat off a mark of 86.
2pt WIN – BENANDONNER @ 13/8
1pt PLACE – REGAL PARADE @ 3.15
RESULT
BENANDONNER 1st = + 3.25pts
REGAL PARADE 2nd + 2.04pts
4:45 ARENALEISUREPLC.COM HANDICAP (CLASS 2) (4yo+,0-
RIO RIVA 9-
PARTY BOSS 9-
RED CAPE 9-
VERY WISE 8-
SILVER HOTSPUR 8-
KABEER 8-
REGAL PARADE 8-
BENANDONNER 8-
CONCLUSION
Shorlist includes Rio Riva, Very Wise, Silver Hotspur, Regal Parade and Benandonner.
Rio Riva although clearly talented doesn’t entirely convince with his record and in this company he may need his conditions to be seen to better effect. They appear to be soft ground and a straight track so todays conditions do really suit the horse so despite a fine effort last time out he is taken on. Very Wise who beat Rio Riva in last seasons Lincoln looks to have dropped to a favourable mark but after his problems last season he doesn’t look one to trust at present and a watching brief is recommended until he proves otherwise. Silver Hotspur has a fine course record and without these talented turf horses entering the picture then he would surely have too much for the typical Southwell Cls 2 handicappers. However this is a big step up in class and he has plenty to prove in this sort of company.
The Spring Mile is almost as competitive as the Lincoln nowadays and Regal Parade ran an excellent race to finish 5th. He will improve for the run and has winning form at the track which puts him in the picture. He could finally be able to fulfill the potential he showed early in his career for his previous yard and he looks to be on a nice mark despite being 1lb out of the handicap. However clearly he has it all to do to reverse form with the Fahey trained favourite Benandonner who is well handicapped and has proven he handles the track when running here for Ed Dunlop. His style of running suits the track and he comes here in fine form after his 2nd in the Spring Mile. That run hinted that the horse is on the upgrade but even if he just reproduces that form he should prove hard to beat off a mark of 86.
2pt WIN – BENANDONNER @ 13/8
1pt PLACE – REGAL PARADE @ 3.15
RESULT
BENANDONNER 1st = + 3.25pts
REGAL PARADE 2nd + 2.04pts
