* been lent

Tiger Tiger, the market vibes were terrible and she was sent off at 30 on here, on this return from a 6-month break. She did make a little late headway but it was slow-motion stuff.

I had it in my head that Zawahir might ideally want a sound surface based on a mark-up run I had for her in the summer, but she has looked quite one-paced in two runs on Dundalk's Polytrack surface. A step up to 12f round here and being ridden forward may help.

Running P/L: -17.2 pts

^ not wanted in the betting this morning

Most firms are offering 4 places in the finale at Lingfield and I'm going to take a couple against the field who make a little appeal at the prices.

Bankrupt, 1pt EW @ 16-1, 3.30 Lingfield (4 PLACES)

Three qualifying runs towards the end of 2021, including when finishing a close-up 4th of 11 over 5f at Wolverhampton, saw Bankrupt initially allotted a mark of 69, however, he hasn't progressed and he's now down to a mark of 47. He did offer some encouragenent when he was last seen over 6f at Wolverhampton, when he was running on at the finish to be beaten just under 2l into 6th place, and as there is a bit of stamina on his dam's side, this first try at 7f on the AW looks worth a go. He is coming off a 5-month break, so fitness has to be taken on trust, but as that last run suggested he might not be a lost cause just yet, a chance is taken at the odds.

My Bonnie Lassie, 1pt EW @ 33-1, 3.30 Lingfield (4 PLACES)

My Bonnie Lassie gave it a good shot from the front on her penultimate start over today's C/D when leading until inside the final furlong before fading to 4th place, in a 0-65 handicap, form which doesn't look too bad in the context of today's lower grade. She wasn't in the same form at this track over a mile when last seen two months ago, but might have had an excuse as she stumbled badly soon after the start before being sent on to lead.

She's coming off a break here, is again racing from out of the handicap and hasn't been helped by being drawn widest,  but a chance is taken at big odds as she evidently can go well round here having previously placed twice over a mile at the track in double-figure fields.

Horrible time of the year George

But at the prices you back George, 1 winner could make it a much better picture

Cheers Brian & Lampus

Bit of a shocker regarding the price with Master Sully, who had drifted out to 10-1 by around 10.30. He was gradually backed back in and went off at only 3-1.

My Bonnie Lassie was run out of 4th place in the closing stages. Nothing from Bankrupt who was caught wide and then eased off in the straight with the jockey looking down.

Running P/L: -16.7 pts

Tattcorner, yes, but obviously, as previously mentioned, it's one thing pulling it back in the summer when there's loads to go at and the notebook is bursting at the seams, but another in January when the notebook is bare and I'm trying to find the value in 0-50 classifieds

So it's a different type of challenge at a different time of year, and I'm long odds-on to fail, or even get the thread into profit right now.

Thanks for your thoughts, stewy, good luck today.

Minesbiggerthanurs was much the weaker in the betting of the two Mick Appleby-trained runners, and having again probably been keen enough in front, only just managed to hold on to fourth place (SP 16-1).

Clifford Lee on Social City made a sharp move 3 or 4 wide on the home bend, presumably to try and get first run on the fav, and having held every chance, he didn't see it out and lost third place late on.

Running P/L: -16.5 pts

Thanks for your thoughts, Glen, good luck today.

Spacer, 1pt EW @ 17-2, 4.55 Wolverhampton

Spacer had signalled there should be more races to be won with him when finishing second at Leicester in July over 7f, and although that was just a four-runner affair, he pulled well clear in a good time with the winner, who would subsequently win a Racing League handicap. 

He has been quite inconsistent since but two of his better efforts have come when finishing runner-up in stronger races over this evening's C/D, when he's had subsequent winners behind him. He was pulled up here on his latest start when reported to have lost his action, so it takes a leap of faith to support him after that, but if this is one of his better days then he's clearly capable of going close off this mark.

Battle Point, 1pt EW @ 40-1, 7.00 Wolverhampton

Battle Point can only be a speculative pick given he's coming off a 5-month break for a stable not renowned for having them ready to roll on their reappearances. He finished a close-up third off a 12lb higher mark in a 3YO handicap over C/D last January on what turned out to be his final start for Richard Hannon. He then didn't shape too badly on his stable debut 80 days later at Windsor over 5f, considering he was drawn widest and was caught on the outer throughout but kept on quite well before losing 4th place on the line.

Battle Point didn't really build on that effort in four subsequent starts though might have excuses for a couple of the runs having reportedly raced freely, and when last seen raced with a slipped saddle. He's subsequently been gelded, which may help given he has taken a grip on more than one occasion, and no bad thing to have Adam Farragher taking over in the saddle with his 3lb claim.

Wd George

Akido, 1pt EW @ 9-1, 5.30 Southwell (4 PLACES)

Akido has fallen 23lb in the ratings since joining his current yard from Ger Lyons, and there have been signs in two starts since returning from over four months off that he may be finding his level again, more so on his latest start over 6f at Wolverhampton when leading until inside the final furlong. He drops into 0-57 company for the first time here with first-time cheekpieces applied, and while he has to prove his effectiveness at 5f, the trip looks worth a try given he can race keenly.

Thunder Ahead, 1pt EW @ 16-1, 6.30 Southwell

Thunder Ahead, who was a 12f winner off a 3lb lower mark over 12f at Wolverhampton as a 3YO when trained Harry Dunlop, went on to win over hurdles for his current trainer Alan King. His first Flat start for the King yard which came over this evening's C/D in October was poor, but he was a lot better following a wind-operation when finishing second over 14f at Wolverhampton last month (where he had Brasca, who endured a wide trip, behind). The form of that race may be open to question given it was won by a 66-1 shot, but he fared best of the prominent racers and perhaps his effort can be marked up given he was keen, and he did pull clear of a mare in third who had won her two previous starts over that C/D.

He drops back in trip to 12f this evening and he has to prove this course suits him as well as Wolverhampton, but hopefully he still has some upside on the Flat for his current connections.

Victoria Falls, 1pt EW @ 20-1, 1.40 Wolverhampton

Victoria Falls finished a promising second in October at Newcastle on her second start over 7f to Brewing, who is now unbeaten in three and rated 89.  Maybe it was a case that something had to finish second and there wasn't much in behind, but she did keep on quite well after meeting a bit of trouble and was clear of the third. She then finished just a fair third at Wolverhampton over 7f on her third qualifying run, but ran poorly when last seen at Newcastle (7f) on her handicap debut when finishing last of 14.

She clearly has a bit to prove now, particularly her stamina on this step up in trip to 9.5f,  but returns from a near 7-week break with Tom Marquand booked and her trainer having won with four of his last five runners.

Fristel, 1pt EW @ 12-1, 4.25 Wolverhampton

It looked a fair effort by Fristel over 6f at Kempton in October in a slightly stronger grade than today's when he got into a battle for the lead while over-racing slightly, but remained close-up until losing second place around half-a-furlong out and fading to fifth. The form has worked out well with the winner and third having won since. He might have had an excuse on his only subsequent start which came at this track, as the drop to 5f might not have suited and he raced wide.

He can race here off a 5lb lower mark than for that penultimate effort, so hopefully he can go well returned to 6f, provided he's ready to roll off a 68-day break.

How Exciting, 1pt EW @ 66-1, 7.15 Southwell

I'm going to take a speculative punt on How Exciting, who finished second of 8 from the outside stall over 5f at Beverley in August, and although that was just a moderate 0-59 nursery run in not a great time, she kept to her task quite well having raced on the outer, and the winner did follow up. She admittedly hasn't built on that effort since but she didn't shape too badly in a 0-62 nursery at Newcastle in September over 6f, when running-on to finish 4th of 9, albeit beaten over 7l, having not had the clearest of runs.

Of her two most recent starts which have come at this track, she was up it against it in a 0-72 grade over 5f in October, and last time over C/D in a 0-55 classified when officially still a 2YO, she failed to land a blow against mainly older opposition. She's clearly limited, but she does have a bit of form that would give her an each-way chance dropped into a 0-50 classified (+ the penalised lto winner), back against her own age group.

Morning George

Keep the faith with the prices, the hardest part for me has always been
dealing with long losing runs, can play tricks on my mind

Good luck today

Meisterzinger, 1pt EW @ 11-2, 8.30 Kempton

It looked a good effort from Meisterzinger when he was last seen in September over 10f at Chelmsford, when he had to work to get to the lead and then set the pace in what was the quicker of the two divisions of the handicap, and having probably kicked for home soon enough, had to settle for fourth place behind a couple of bang-in-form fillies and one who had picked up the pieces for third from off the pace, but he was clear of the remainder.

It's a concern that he hasn't been seen since, though he did win off a shorter break on his stable debut in 2021. He's again up against a couple of in-form fillies, and this will be his first start at Kempton, but as he seems pretty solid in the early betting markets, hopefully he's ready to roll.

Yeah..Rome wasn't built in a day George, and think you were on the right track with Ann Duffield's horse.  I've seen her suddenly pop up with a big outsider before. Onwards and upwards

Well Done George

WD GB.

About time ......