Flat Racing: Thursday 15th December

[Mirage]

Thursday: 13.30 Southwell 0.5/5pts Each-Way If You Whisper - 14/1 with William Hill I was close to giving this race a miss but saw Hills' price and thought this runner was worth a small interest. This isn't the strongest handicap in the world and i think having Greyfriarschorista so short shows the lack of depth in the race. The favourite has obvious claims but i think it is worth taking a chance with an outsider and that outsider is If You Whisper. This 3 year old gelding has a bit to prove on all known form but i think a combination of returning to 8 furlongs and being back at Southwell gives him a small chance. Since winning at Southwell this time last year he hasn't done a great deal in other class 4 handicaps but some of those have been stronger than this one. He has been as high as 79 and now back to 71 and receiving weight off the majority of these, there is enough there to suggest he may run well. Last time out over an extra 2 furlongs he made decent progress late after being given far too much to do and that suggests to me that he is in good enough form. That run was in a race a class lower that today's but the way he travelled for the most part and then finished the race gives me some hope. This is his first run over this distance in a while with his last two races being over 10 furlongs and the one before that over 7 furlongs. A smarter ride is needed so hopefully that will be given and he can show his best. If You Whisper deserves to be an outsider here but i think 14/1 is a bit too large. Having a small amount on the price is more than justified in my opinion.

[Cowan]

Re: Flat Racing: Thursday 15th December Southwell 1.30 - Podgies Boy (13.00ew) Sure to be a suicidal pace set here with proven front runners such as Piceno, Standpoint, and Greyfriarschorista. The others will track these and put the pressure on about 3f or 2f out in anticipation of the bend. The held-up types will be Vitznau - who is on a big decline at 7yo, Podgies Boy, and If You Whisper - who leaves himself too much to do and is being shaped over longer than this 8f (also lto blinkers failed to alter behaviour). Podgies Boy has had a terrific run at Lingfield and Southwell by taking advantage of the pace in those races and I still consider him relatively unexposed. This race should suit him and I'm delighted with the price.