Flat Racing 25th Oct Thursday

[chris34]

1.30 Southwell Interesting handicap with plenty of course form which is what you like to see around here. Eastern Hills has won here 5 times from 18 starts, ran well considering the weights last time out in a claimer at Wolves and returns to this surface on a tempting mark 9lb lower than his last winning mark but his last run on this surface was disappointing and perhaps best watched for a yard going through a quiet spell. Bonnie Prince Blue and General Tufto are too old rogues who love it around here but neither are trustworthy these days both need a strong pace and will do it the hard way around here but both are on good marks and worth noting. No Dominion won a CD handicap last time out in good style up 5lb for that effort and better than distance suggested having idled when hitting the front. He is another one that likes to do it the hard way and will need these to go hard pace upfront to play to his benefit which is a bit risky around here and also yard not going any great guns and looks a risky 3/1 shot. The Burke yard aren’t quite flying like they were but they have had several big priced selections placed recently to suggest theyre running well enough and Bold Marc is an admirable old veteran. He has run several solid efforts around here including a CD win in a claimer in April that effort makes him look very well handicapped off a mark of 60 returned to this surface. Not quite been as good since but slightly better effort last time out in a selling handicap and if return to this surfacewith much reduced mark has a positive effect he should go well from a good draw for a prominent sort. 2pt win Bold Marc 9/2 vc 3.35 Southwell The flying 5f is something rather refreshing during the winter months the only straight races we see during the winter campaign and some horses revel in it because at this low level many struggle to come from off the pace. Both having A Good Time and Fama Mac are 4lb ahead of the handicapper and identically matched as when finishing 2^nd and 3^rd in same race at Nottingham they were beaten by an exposed sort that form doesn’t look that strong. Fama Mac sire stats are not great and Havin A Good Time sire has yet to have a runner on surface but it is worth noting his 2 wins have come on fast polytrack and fast turf so concern about this slower surface. Littlesuzie hasn’t been seen for nearly a year since finishing 2^nd over this trip at Kempton given a 2lb rise and far from exposed but concern is hasn’t been seen since then and did go well fresh last year. I felt Greek Island was an interesting runner returned to this surface. Having once been with Godolphin and placed in handicaps off marks in the mid 70’s, still a maiden though and not hit same heights since but couple of better efforts recently offer some hope recently including when 2^nd on first try on this surface over 7f showing plenty of speed today and might just be worth a try at this minimum trip well drawn in stall 6. 2pt win Greek Island 6/1 VC

[Bathtime For Rupert]

Re: Flat Racing 25th Oct Thursday 2.00 Southwell - 1pt win Maz @ 9/1 (Ladbrokes) Won on the polytrack in March but was a big drifter in the market on her next few runs and ran accordingly. Suggested that the betting is a good way to monitor her chances and her two most recent efforts have been more encouraging. The Alan Bailey yard are going pretty well now and there's been some support for this runner today. The all-weather suits and I feel the fibresand will also. Her only win came fresh so the month and a bit off is no issue and I fancy her to go close.