Well done GB. You know your stuff, which will always shine through in the long term.

Well deserved. Onwards and upwards.

WD George

I was on the 2nd e/w @ 14-1

Did get a lay matched @ 1.08 so not all doom and gloom!

Fairy Footprints, 1pt EW @ 25-1, 1.50 Southwell (4 PLACES)

It takes a leap of faith to support Fairy Footprints after three disappointments, but I'm tempted in again at decent odds. The case for her rests on her second at Wolverhampton (9.5f) in October when she bumped into the improving Masqool, who was completing the middle-leg of a hat-trick. Her effort probably wanted marking up based on how the race panned out, and also suggested she might stay further, particularly as she's by Free Eagle, who seems to be putting a bit of stamina into his stock.

The three runs since, two over the same C/D and one over today's C/D have been underwhelming but if she can return to the form of that good run in October, then hopefully she has each-way prospects here.

Dun Na Sead, 1pt EW @ 28-1, 6.30 Dundalk (4 PLACES)

It didn't look a bad effort from Dun Na Sead on her AW debut over 5f at this track in July, considering it was a 0-105 handicap and she had a bit of a wide trip. She only ran once more in 2022, when she was disappointing at Bellewstown (5f) in August. Her reappearance came over 5f at Dundalk sixteen days ago when the run might have been needed and she again had a wide trip from a wide draw.

She has to prove her stamina on this step up to 6f, but she remains lightly-raced and unexposed on the AW, and can race off a 10lb lower mark than for that initial Polytrack run.

No Such Luck, 1pt EW @ 7-1, 1.02 Lingfield (4 PLACES)

No Such Luck ended up having quite a wide trip over C/D last week in the 0-57 won by one of today's rival's Recuerdame, and in the circumstances didn't shape too badly. When apprentice claims are taken into consideration, he's actually worse off with the winner, so he's far from certain to reverse the form even with a kinder trip, particularly as No Such Luck is probably better at 10f. However, a chance is taken at the odds in this basement-grade classified stakes with Jack Mitchell back in the saddle, who was aboard the only time No Such Luck won a race (over 10f at this track), and with there not being much obvious pace on in this, they may attempt to dictate the fractions.

Plastic Paddy, 1pt EW @ 11-1, 1.30 Southwell (4 PLACES)

Plastic Paddy had a lot of use made of him last time over 7f at Kempton when wearing a first-time visor, in what was a well-run contest, and given how the race panned out his effort probably wanted marking up. His four career wins have come at a mile at other AW tracks, and he ran well over that trip at this course three starts back in November when finishing a close-up 4th of 13.

So there is a concern regarding the 7f trip, also it has to be hoped the visor continues to have a positive effect, and he doesn't have the 3lb claim this time of his regular pilot Frederick Larson, but he may be able to get into a good tactical position tracking possible pace-setter Parallel World, so he may at least be well positioned to at least hang on for a place.

GL…G

No Such Luck got third on the bob having come from off the pace, not ridden forward as I had thought might be the case.

Not a coincidence that all four of Plastic Paddy's career wins have come at a mile, and he didn't have the gears over today's 7f to get away from them up the straight, and he was outpaced into 5th.

See how it's going at the halfway stage, might have to adjust the target to just breaking even

Running P/L: -17.1 pts

Keep it going George. At the prices you bet, -17 is nothing.

Win, lose or draw, it's always a worthwhile and interesting read - at a time when there really aren't very many of those about any more.

Also congratulations on your previous thread, I was away when it concluded - but a cracking result as well as a good read. Chin up.

I feel queasy…..

Ffs there he is again…..

Only one for me today George

Territorial Waters 12.45N  @ 14-1(ew) 3 places BOG

How Exciting, 1pt EW @ 9-1, 12.45 Newcastle (3 PLACES)

Not much to go at today, so with a number of bookmakers offering three places on the opener, I'm going to give another chance to How Exciting, who was an early price of 66-1 when I selected at Southwell 4 days ago, when I wrote:

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.

She didn't exactly suggest there that she's a winner waiting to happen, but she did offer a bit more, and the winner has gone in again since to give the form a little boost, so in another poor contest, hopefully she can build on that effort at a track she has run OK at before.

Beneficiary, 1pt win @ 11-2, 3.15 Newcastle

Beneficiary is of a little interest at the prices stepped back up to 6f. He ran well over C/D three starts back in early December when not beaten far for second place in a field of 14, when faring best of those drawn low in a race where the first three came from double-figure stalls, albeit he wasn't positioned too far away from the eventual winner throughout the race. He was  bit disappointing on is next start over 5f at this track, but was better last time back at Southwell over 5f in first-time cheekpieces when running on well for second, behind one who since run well in defeat off a 5lb higher mark.

He wears first-time blinkers today, so it has to be hoped in a small filed from his draw in 1 that he doesn't over-race in them, but he remains unexposed at the trip and his novice form over C/D from last winter reads quite well.

Well done on the place, DG

Nothing from How Exciting.
Beneficiary found the fav too good.

Running P/L: -20.1 pts

Sorry to intrude but thought could get an answer on this thread.

I am going to Paris next week and have an account with betfair and smarkets does anyone know if I can access one or both from France tia.

I'm going to take a couple of veterans at double-figure prices against the field in the 3.40 at Southwell.

Cliffs Of Capri, 1pt EW @ 14-1, 3.40 Southwell
Hafeet Alain, 1pt EW @ 11-1, 3.40 Southwell

Cliffs Of Capri and Hafeet Alain are a couple of old notebook horses, who both ran in the same London Mile Qualifier last time out at Kempton, where the Archie Watson-trained winner under Hollie Doyle got across from a wide draw and pretty much dictated the pace to suit themselves and as a result it wasn't easy to close from off the pace, but the two selections caught the eye with their finishing efforts. Perhaps it's form to treat with caution given the first nine home were covered by less than three lengths, but both the selections are looking fairly handicapped, so a chance is taken at the odds.

The Curent favouite for this, Court Of Session, also ran in that Kempton race, for which he was among the market leaders, and it was a similar story for him in that he was poorly positioned given how the race panned out, but made some good late-headway.

Coast, 1pt EW @ 33-1, 4.20 Wolverhampton

Coast's yard has gone 44 runners without a winner, so there is a concern about the stable form, and Coast herself ran poorly when last seen, though they have had three placed in the last week, which included a short-head defeat. Coast is returning from over 6-weeks off and there is a query about the 5f trip given both her course wins have come over 6f, but she has the inside draw and evidently isn't short of early pace as she showed when carrying over 11 stone to victory in an amateur riders' contest here in November.

She's been absolutely friendless in the betting this morning, so it could be the run will be needed, but a chance is taken at the odds as the manner of that latest course win suggested she may be up to defying higher marks.

It`s going to be a good week George

Nice place George,one of those is going to get it's nose in front sooner or later.

Floats On Air, 1pt EW 50-1, 6.00 Southwell (4 PLACES)

I'm going to take a flyer at huge odds with Floats On Air, who didn't run too badly in a 0-50 classified over 7f at Wolverhampton five days ago, when he finished third and fared best of the prominent-racers, albeit no match for the easy winner. Admittedly that contest was probably weaker and had less depth than this evening's classified, particularly as the favourite Hatchert (who also runs in this) blew his chance at the start. I've had a look back at Floats On Air's previous run which came over this evening's C/D in a 0-57 handicap, and although in no way unlucky, he was drawn in a double-figure stall and then met with a bit of trouble in the straight before plugging on.

He's got a good draw to work from this evening if the plan is to go forward again, and given he comes here in some sort of form, hopefully there will be worse 50-1 shots.

Sun Festival, 1pt EW @ 20-1, 6.00 Southwell (4 PLACES)

I'm going to take a chance at the prices on Sun Festival, who might have needed a couple of runs back since a 5-month break, particularly as his stable hadn't been in the best of form (trainer was on the RP's cold list yesterday but did have a winner at Southwell).  Prior to his break he'd been running consistently well under today's jockey Alice Bond, including when just denied off the same mark as today's over 10f at Lingfield in June.

This will be his first run at Southwell, but the surface shouldn't be an issue as he has won on Tapeta at Wolverhampton, and although he has yet to win over a trip this far, he did place over the distance when finishing runner-up at Kempton in June.

GL George


Todays e/w guesses

Yoshimi  5.30S @20-1  3pl
May Sonic 7.00S @20-1  3pl
Selfish Brian 7.30S @14-1  4pl
Back From Dubai 8.30S @12-1  3pl

E/W L15 BOG courtesy of the bald one.

Good luck DG & Virgin

Virgin, yesterday I opted for the price over the extra place, but one of them went walkies in the market anyway. Today, 4th place would be a good result, so happy to have that bit of extra insurance.