Smart Alex
SEVERUS TO CUT OFF SOUTHWELL RIVALS
MANY turf meetings have suffered at the hands of the cold snap this week but all-weather racing has kept racing fans in the thick of the action.
Today’s focus is on the Fibresand at Southwell and I like the look of SEVERUS ALEXANDER (1.20) in the extended two-mile handicap.
I think Claire Hobson’s five-year-old can reverse recent form with t h e penalised t op weight Ravenscar. That day, he dominated from the front and was only beaten a length so a 5lb pull should be enough to reverse the placings.
In the opener, Swinton Noon is an obvious frontrunner and comes here in really good form having won two of his last three races and has struck up a really good partnership with young Theodore Ladd. But David Simcock’s lightly raced WOKE MEDIA (12.50) has made gradual if unspectacular progress in four career starts and dropped a pound to a mark of 61, he looks ready to triumph for the first time. With Al Suil Eile the only entry in the eight-strong field not a course and distance winner, the Bombardier British Hopped Amber Beer Handicap is chock-full of Fibresand specialists.
And the best handicapped is probably
YOUNG JOHN (1.50), back down to his last winning mark of 63 and with in-form
7lbs claimer Laura Pearson on board.
He has most to fear from top-weight Liamba, a narrow winner over Lion Tower last time out but only 4lbs higher here.
Drew Breeze will be a popular selection in the Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap to follow up his game success over a furlong shorter here seven days ago but he will be short in the market and a better value each-way play could be KYBOSH (2.20).
The Mick Appleby charge has the blinkers on for the first time and that should hopefully sharpen him up.
It maybe worth taking a chance on top weight (2.50, nap) in the Bombardier Handicap.
He is becoming nicely handicapped and in a moderate contest could up to successfully giving 4lbs away to recent course and distance winner Maykir.
Mark Johnston’s yard is in good form and the Bombardier ‘March To Your Own Drum’ Maiden Stakes looks a cracking chance for his TELLMEYOURSTORY (3.20) to get off the mark on just her second career start.
The Karakonite filly did well to finish second on her debut at Lingfield Park as she raced wide throughout that contest and yet was only beaten half-a-length by Alvarino.
Finally, in the Betyourway At Betway Handicap, inconsistent NICK VEDDER
(3.50) looks the best bet as he relished coming off a rapid pace over the course and distance last week.
Once he got on a roll, he was always going to pick up Qaaraat and Dirchill late on and if in the same kind of mood, I don’t think that a 4lb penalty will be enough to stop him.
CASTLE QUARTER