Flat Racing 28th March (Inc. Jumpers Bumpers @ Southwell)

[chris34]

2.40 Wolverhampton Needwood Park got the run of the race when second behind Crimson Monarch in a basement grade handicap, up a 1lb which should be within reach but still a maiden and needs to back that effort up and go one better. Crimson Monarch finally built on some promising runs when winning a basement handicap on penultimate start, ran well off revised mark meeting trouble but does often get going far too late and is a frustrating sort. Yard also run Mazij who too comes into this with a chance after 2 better efforts staying on in a race unlikely to suit him in a small field. If that resurgence continues he is on a very handy mark 5lb below his last winning mark. Jockey bookings don’t really offer much light on yards first string and he is unlikely to get an uncontested lead in this field. There are several prominent runners in this field and that could play into the hands of Lady Burgundy who’s yard is in much better form recently including a win in these colours on Tuesday in Calculating at Southwell. Didn’t get a huge amount of luck in the run last time out when the winner made all but when in clear she ran a great race with no chance of catching the winner who had flown. This race should be run much stronger and aslong as the gaps appear she could go well to end her long losing run has placed off 15lb higher marks in the past over CD. 2pt win Lady Burgundy 7/2 bet365 3.30 Southwell I hate these Jumpers Bumpers but I cant help but think Masterful Act might be hard to beat here. Ostland is the best jumper in this field and proved in good nick when winning a big field handicap chase at Startford off a mark of 135 10 months ago so fitness is on trust, he looks yards first choice tho. He also has very good flat form in Germany with a 2^nd in a group 1 and won a group 3 over 1m3f. Most form on good ground some soft so this fibresand surface not guaranteed to suit on that basis. Riguez Dancer has some form on this surface when winnign on the flat off a mark of 73 in 2009 and also finished runner up in one of these bumpers in 2010. Not seen on the surface since and has largely struggled to find form this term and plenty to prove although return to surface a plus. Red Not Blue took his time to find his form after winning on debut in a NHF race but has progressed nicely including a win on penultimate start in a handicap hurdle off a mark of 132, never got involved off revised mark and not seen since then 5 months on so again fitness has to be trusted and no form on this surface. Lucky Landing was 2^nd in a 6 runner one of these last February over CD, only going down by half a length to a modest sort so on that basis the form looks slightly weak even for one of these but has atleast been seen recently and in good heart winning a novice hurdle in good style on figures does have something to find. Cross Of Honour looks second string for the Longsdon team which are in good form at present, he won one of these at Kempton in December and went on to win a weak handicap chase at Fakenham off a mark of 125 in December again, not seen since then a worry and no form on this surface. On official figures Masterful Act has something to find but his ability to act on this surface goes a long way in one of these, he has been in fantastic form around here winning in really classy style on penultimate start beating another good sort on this surface in Amtired that was off 71 now rated 84 on this surface, was outclassed at Doncaster on Friday but conditions were desperate so easy to forgive and should bounce back. This could be some clever placing by Mccabe to get another win in on this surface while the sun shines. 2pt win Masterful Act

[Bathtime For Rupert]

Re: Flat Racing 28th March (Inc. Jumpers Bumpers @ Southwell) 2.40 Wolverhampton - 1pt win Lord Golan @ 14/1 (Bet365) Obviously a little wary of backing horses from this yard where the money often speaks volumes but will watch the market with interest but if this one is backed then taking 14/1 could look a godsend. Also could look silly if he's tailed off at 25s but here goes. Lightly raced with just five runs to date but has shown some hints of ability over shorter on the all-weather but looks like he wants a good gallop over 1m4f on this surface. He ran well behind a decent type after a break on his final maiden start and quickly was turned out for his handicap debut. He was held up off a steady pace and was never involved there but both the way the race was run and the quick turnaround probably contributed there. Has had a break and comes here now with conditions hopefully to suit a bit better. Cathy Gannon takes the mount on her only ride of the day and fingers crossed he can build on the promise shown two starts back with the cheekpieces on. 4.20 Wolverhampton - 2pts win Exceedexpectations @ 5/1 (VC) Watt Broderick did run well the other day but this is a quick turnaround and also the 1m2f here is quite different to that at Lingfield and he still has to totally prove himself at the trip for me to be backing at 2/1. Ishikawa looks sure to run well but could be just about in the grip of the handicapper now and I think the price of Conor Dore's runner is quite generous. He's only had two runs for his new yard and those have both been over this c&d. He was beaten a length in third two starts back when racing keenly in a small field before running on and won comfortably last time out. He's 5lbs higher here but a more generous gallop would see him even better so I think he's still off a fair mark and Luke Morris has been firing in the winners of late.