Seeker to provide Southwell Thrill
Thrill Seeker can ensure the new year starts with its share of excitement by winning the Bombardier British Hopped Amber Beer Handicap which opens Southwell’s card tomorrow.
Those in need of a spring in their step on Friday cannot rely on Cheltenham this year, after the New Year’s Day meeting in the Cots wolds was abandoned due to water logging. The Fibresand can instead deliver, though, and Thrill Seeker looks primed to do his bit just after lunchtime.
William Haggas’ son of Invincible Spirit was well-backed as the even-money favourite to break his all-weather duck at the second attempt, in novice company at Wolverhampton over seven furlongs before Christmas – and he got the job done with little fuss.
He held his head a little high that day, not for the first time, so Cieren Fallon will doubtless be wise to keep him out of the kickback here. But it was a step very much in the right direction – in first-time cheekpieces after a gelding operation – and a 7lb rise for this handicap debut does not appear a major concern, following plausible previous efforts to twice finish third in October.
Thrill Seeker did not appear to stay the 10 furlongs at Chelmsford on his pen ultimate run, but this switch back up to just a mile looks spot on at this stage.
Ayr Harbour has already proved his liking for Southwell, and has a fine chance to regain the winning knack in the Bombardier Handicap.
Mick Appleby’s colt was successful here on his only previous visit, in October, and returns on an 11lb higher mark – having since won again and then finished an honourable second at Chelmsford.
The mile in Essex appeared to prove just beyond him last time, but that level of form is nonetheless persuasive here – and the slight drop in trip seems a sensible move.
Ustath has proved his effectiveness emphatically round here, and makes his seventh successive trip to Southwell in pursuit of a fourth course victory in the Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap.
He has lost out in his last three attempts, but each time with merit – beaten under five lengths in all and only a neck away last time when he was caught in the final strides over six furlongs.
He reverts to the minimum trip and, albeit from a 3lb higher rating, has obvious prospects – with the 7lb claim of his regular jockey Tyler Heard once again in his favour.
Mr Carbonator is another regular capable of rising to the occasion in the closing Play 4 To Score At Betway Handicap.
He too is paying his seventh consecutive visit to Nottinghamshire – and having had to settle for second behind a bang-in-form rival last time, he has another chance off the same rating back down to arguably his best trip.