GL both

Snag it ran a good race but prover again that 1m 2 1/2fs is too far, may still be able to win another race back to 1m. Deed Pole ran very well again and a bit unlucky to run into a horse winning 1st ever race on 27th start.
This other horse is drifting like the Kontiki, but with this stable you never know.

Smasher, 1pt EW @ 9-1, 8.00 Wolverhamtpon

Smasher is a three-time C&D winner who is a pound above his last winning mark and has shown enough this all-weather season to suggest another win can come his way, notably when finishing runner-up off a pound lower mark at Kempton in December, with a subsequent winner behind him in third; and prior to that he'd shaped better than the bare result back at Wolverhampton having been on a contested pace with an in-form rival before weakening inside the final furlong.  He shaped as though still in form on his latest two starts at Chelmsford then Kempton when the races didn't pan out ideally.

He is due to be dropped a pound and doesn't always help himself by taking a keen hold, but hopefully can slot into a nice position with cover from his inside draw and being back at Dunstall Park is an obvious plus.

Sorry thought you got 3rd

She Still Blooms, 1pt EW @ 9-1, 4.17 Dundalk (4 PLACES)

She Still Blooms made an encouraging return from an absence of 315 days when beaten just over a length into 5th of 14 over the one mile trip here in December, and it was an effort that probably wanted marking up considering she had refused to settle and only lost third place close home. It's easy to see why connections have opted to drop her back in trip to 7f, though she is out of a Sea The Stars mare so it remains to be seen if it's ideal, or whether she wants the longer trip but needs to settle better.

It's a concern that she's had another short break since and the form of her latest start could have worked out better, but she's been eased a pound and is open to improvement having had just the five starts.

3rd George, well done, hoped Nicola could hold on and traded down to 1.3 but ran out of steam, the Ferrari ran out of juice.

3rd is good....WD George

Thanks Dad, 1pt EW @ 12-1, 4.12 Southwell

It looked a respectable effort from Thanks Dad on his latest start at Newcastle (7f) when returning from a 50-day break last month with a first-time tongue-tie (retained here) applied and finishing fifth of 12, one place behind a subsequent winner.

Of his three runs at this course, he didn't run too badly over today's trip of 7f in August off an 8lb higher mark when finishing fifth of 12, and although he ran poorly in two tries over a mile here after, the distance and wide trips might offer excuses.

The selection is eligible for weaker races than this one and it's a concern that he's had a further 44 days off, during which time he was declared a non-runner (self-certificate) for a Newcastle engagement, and his stable haven't been in much form these last two weeks (none placed from 18 runners but mainly at big prices), however, a chance is taken as his latest effort might have wanted marking up based on how the race panned out and he is now 10lb below his initial mark.

Cobs, I can see why Thanks Dad may run better under different circumstances but he found this class 5 too hot.

2025 Running P/L: +1.88 pts

good luck George !

desperately unlucky George on the nod

Bad luck George, didn't look a hairs width between the 3 of them as went past the line.

Great shout George despite the result gl ....

Crossbar...unlucky, great pick

The Princes Poet, 1pt EW @ 28-1, 5.55 Newcastle (4 PLACES)

The Princes Poet was running okay here in October, over today's trip of 5f when he caught the eye not getting any luck in the run, and then over 6f, when he was on a contested pace in a race that set up for one that had had been detached at one point from the main body of the field.

He blew the start on his next run returned to 5f, and then had a 56-day break before three runs back  and he hasn't run too badly here the last twice, including last time out over 5f when finishing fourth and behind a couple of today's rivals.

The selection hasn't won for a while and can be tricky at the start, so he's a risky proposition, but fitness shouldn't be an issue now following that near two-month absence, and with the likes of Stroxx (who he was behind last time) and Three Beauz in the field this promises to be run at a strong pace, so if this is one of his better days then hopefully he can be keeping on late to at least press for a place.

Secret Daay, 1pt EW @ 18-1, 7.25 Newcastle

Secret Daay is a 29-race maiden but has shown enough at this course to suggest a low-grade contest can come his way, particularly in the early part of last year when he made the frame on occasions behind proven course performers like Noble Captain and Beneficiary.

He seemed to lose his form from the spring onwards but reappeared recently from a 69-day break to finish a four-length 4th behind one of today's rivals Asadjuneirah. Hopefully the selection is sharper for that comeback, and although he has to race from out of the handicap this evening, he does meet that rival on 4lb better terms.

GL today George & Foyles

George.B = Edward Smith

Chavman, the ship may be sinking but the band will keep on playing and right now they're playing The Verve

I know I'm on a losing streak...


2025 Running P/L: -4.32 pts

A couple against the field in the 6.30 at double-figure prices:

Antiphon, 1pt EW @ 35-1, 6.30 Wolverhampton

Antiphon probably shaped better than his finishing position (last of ten) suggested last month at Southwell (6f) when returning from a break, having rejoined Michael Keady (who had previously trained him in partnership with Mike Murphy) from Gay Kelleway (for whom he ran three times), when getting across to lead from a tricky draw and showing up well until around 1.5f out in what was a well-run contest, the form of which is working out with the 3rd and 6th having won since, and 5th has subsequently run well in defeat to finish second. The selection failed to take a step forward from this on his latest start at Chelmsford (5f) when a wide draw and trip didn't help.

A drop in the weights allows Antiphon into this 0-65, for which he has a better draw, and he's now 7lb below his last winning mark. He's been weak in the betting and I'm not sure what to make of the jockey booking because Sean D Bowen, who has ridden the selection the last twice, is riding here this evening but is replaced by 7lb claimer Alice Bond, who takes her first ride for the trainer.

Bibendum, 1pt EW @ 22-1, 6.30 Wolverhampton

Bibendum was a selection on the thread last week over the 6f trip here when I wrote:

Bibendum is a cast-off from the Gosden yard who's still a maiden after 12 starts but has shown for his current stable to suggest a race can come his way, notably over C/D in October when finishing second of 11 in a contest that produced comparatively the best time on the card, and from which the 3rd, 4th and 6th have won subsequently.

Of the selection's three starts since, he ran well to finish a close-up third at Newcastle (6f), then reportedly ran flat when disappointing back over C/D in November, and shaped as though needing the run when finishing 6th of 8 back from a two-month break at Southwell recently.

The negatives aren't hard to spot for today as he doesn't have Jack Doughty's valuable 5lb claim like he had for that good C/D effort, he's eligible for weaker races than this one, and it has to be hoped that he doesn't over-race in first-time blinkers from his wide draw, but a chance is taken at the odds as there is probably a bigger effort in him at some point.

Bibendum never figured last week but it was a slightly stronger race, he was dropped in from a wide draw in a contest where it proved hard to make up ground from off the pace, and he might not have faced the first-time blinkers, which are quickly discarded. It's a concern that 5f round here might not be enough of a test for him, but Jack Doughty being back in the saddle looks a positive having placed on the horse twice from three rides.

Thismydream, 1pt EW @ 18-1, 8.00 Wolverhampton

Thismydream made an encouraging return to action over the 5f trip here last month when finishing a close-up fifth, one place behind a subsequent dual winner, particularly as his yard's runners usually need a run or two to advance their fitness following an absence. He was upped in class for his latest start at Lingfield (5f) when it seemed he didn't have the clearest of runs on the home bend but his jockey also reported that the gelding had hung badly left-handed throughout, easing him off before he had the chance to get into contention.

The selection gets another headgear switch, he's 1lb below his last winning mark, while the return to 6f shouldn't be an issue, so provided he doesn't hang his chance away again then hopefully he can give a good acount.

Good luck cobs and thanks for the speed figures analysis.