Leicester and Wetherby both face early morning inspections on Tuesday to see if racing can go ahead. Much of the UK was in the grip of freezing conditions on Monday so I’ve decided to study the all-weather at Southwell where racing is guaranteed.
There are a couple of decent handicaps on the card, starting with the five-furlong dash at 2.30. The one I like here is Zac Brown who shoulders a 6lbs penalty for his impressive win on the opening day at Chelmsford City.
The four-year-old son of Kodiac wore a hood for the first time that day and settled nicely in the hands of Graham Gibbons. Victory was never in doubt once he delivered his challenge at the furlong pole, drawing three and a quarter lengths clear of It Must Be Faith.
He beat Dissent by three lengths at Wolverhampton in November but refused to settle next time when only fourth behind Secondo. The hood seems to have made all the difference and he can track the leaders before arriving late.
The pace is almost certain to be set by Michael Appleby’s Scarborough who beat the in-form Extreme Supreme here a week ago. The four-year-old daughter of Dandy Man bounced out of the stalls and was never headed. She will be the target for Zac Brown in the closing stages.
My second selection is the topically-named Deuce Again, trained by John Gosden. Southwell may be a long way from the Australian Open in Melbourne but this filly could at least cheer up the freezing punters on this side of the globe. She is a beautifully bred daughter of Dubawi and Gosden will be eyeing some black type for her at some stage.
She showed plenty of promise in two decent maiden races at Newbury last summer, notably when third to the more-experienced Saab Almanal and Smiling Stranger over a mile and a quarter. She could not have won any easier than she did here last time, her rider Robert Havlin risking a serious neck injury with some extravagant looks over his shoulder in the home straight.
The handicapper has given her a mark of 84 but that can only be based on guesswork. Godolphin’s Solidarity would be an obvious threat but you would have to discard his poor effort when trailing home last on his most recent outing.
Zac Brown 2.30 @5-2 Paddy Power
Deuce Again 3.05 @7-4 Ladbrokes
