Flat Racing 16th April

[chris34]

2.40 Southwell Mata Hari Blue isn’t going to get an easier opportunity to get back on the scoreboard than this and anything above evens looks value. Economic Crisis failed to build on seasonal reappearance last time out and is just perhaps too high in handicap now, not beaten far on only try on surface but didn’t particularly look at home. Climaxfortackle has been consistent all winter and has now won back to back over 6f on polytrack up 3lb for narrow victory last time out, always struggled off this sort of mark in past and isn’t entirely straightforward. Drop to 5f also a worry and not guaranteed to get a strong pace here over the straight 5f. No experience of surface but yard know the surface well. Mata Hari Blue goes well on this surface and has the speed to deal with this drop back to 5f and has won twice over this trip. Slightly disappointing effort last time out at Doncaster on the back of a solid run around here over 6f when setting a suicidal pace. Should get a softer lead here and hard to pin back over this trip. 2pt win Mata Hari Blue 11/8 bet365 4.25 Southwell Plenty of course form on offer in a reasonable race. Half A Billion has plenty of course form around here but over 6f and despite a win over 7f at Musselburgh this might just stretch his stamina and now 5lb higher than when winning last year on turf and 6lb higher than last run here when 2^nd. Desert Creek doesn’t have best record fresh and despite being 1 from 1 around here probably best to look elsewhere given he was beaten off his revised mark when last seen and given record fresh so poor. Caldercruix won 3 starts back and has been beaten far on recent starts but this is another good race and he may just need some help from the handicapper again now but should run his race again on this surface. Al Khan didn’t look particularly at home on the surface last time out and starting to look high enough in the weights too. Springheel Jake could be the dark outsider. Has won 1 from 1 around here in a nursery handicap off a mark of 68, finished last year on downward spiral but did go well fresh last year so not totally dismissed. Dutch Old Master looks a peculiar price only won a maiden on debut, not beaten far last time out but was a very short price on that occasion and will need to step up on that run, and yet to experience this surface so not sure he warrants a price tag of 11/4. Lieutenant Dan was well backed when winning over a mile at Lingfield recently, not quite so good under penalty last time out over extended mile at Wolves but still not a bad effort if reverting back to front running tactics on this surface could well be of interest but hasn’t encountered this surface before and this trip might be on the short side. For me Hellbender looks the one to take at the prices. Has held his form really well since joining this yard on this surface winning off a mark of 60 and not beaten far by some other progressive sorts on most recent starts and despite now being 9lb higher he wasn’t beaten far by the impressive Ace Master off a 1lb lower mark last time out and if he gets a good pace to chase he could well stay on past these and still on a very good mark. 2pt win Hellbender 13/2 boyles