Sunny Southwell today hoping for a Super Sunday! Four runners at a track that has been kind to us hoping for a bit of luck again today.
Mozzaro is our first runner of the day in a Handicap Chase over 3 miles under James Best who won on him last time on his chasing debut. That was over 2 1/2 miles but I don’t think the extra half a mile today will hinder him. I was thrilled for his patient owners that he got his head in front last time and thrilled for the horse too who has been a big baby and it would be fabulous if he could follow up today with another competitive run.
In the next race Dreamsundermyfeet re-appears also over fences under Ben Godfrey who won on him last time. He has won at Southwell three times already this year, and also at Huntingdon last time, and seems in great form. He will be hoping the ground is the good side of good to soft, not the softer side.
Our third runner is Matthew Baker’s Brianna Rose who is making her second appearance over hurdles. She’s been the bridesmaid in three of her five runs for us and is up against a very strong favourite today but she will have come on for her hurdling debut and you should never run scared of one horse!
Our fourth runner is She Has Notions for our Martin Keighley Racing Partnership 11 under Finn Lambert who is having his first ride for us. Finn is based with Nigel Twiston-Davies and has been coming in regularly to ride out. I think his handicap mark is harsh enough but I’m happy for the Handicapper & She Has Notions to prove me wrong today! He’s done plenty of schooling and Harry Atkins, who rides him at home, has done a great job with him.
Yesterday at Hereford Sarasota Star simply didn’t deserve to get beaten having jumped for fun under James Best and not missed a beat. He was in front everywhere apart from the line being headed in the final strides which was gutting. However, I think a nice horse beat us and he’s done nothing wrong this autumn winning two of his other chases and finishing 4th over hurdles at Cheltenham. James said he was a joy to ride yesterday and Paul Davis, who is part of his ownership and runs the syndicate remarked that he is a joy to own too!
Debden Bank ran the first disappointing race he’s run for about 18 months and was never really at the races eventually being pulled up. We’ll ensure he gets a full check over and go from there. It may be that he just doesn’t want to go right handed ….but we’ll elimiate everything else too. Both horses were A1 this morning.