6.10 Kempton
Marvelino 14/1
The very shrewd Pat Eddery saddles 3 year old Marvelino in this 0-60 handicap and although he's been poor in his last 5 outing on turf (two over ridiculous distance of 10f and 12f) I think it is very interesting that Marvelino returns to the AW, a surface that he definitely seems best on, now his mark has fallen to 60 which allows him to get into this basement level race. A horse who was clearly very highly thought of at home judged on his heavy market support on racecourse debut in a hot Conditions race at Newmarket, Marvelino has never reached the level he was expected to and probably never will but he certainly has the ability to win races at a modest level. It took him 13 attempts to finally shed his Maiden tag when making all in a moderate maiden over 5f at Lingfield back in January before running well in 3 AW handicaps at Kempton off higher marks than this that would give him an excellent chance today. He was beaten a little over a neck in a 0-75 handicap over 5f at the track off a mark of 67 back in February before he followed that up with another solid performance in the same grade off a mark of 68 a month later over the same C+D. His final start on the AW off 67 came under tonight's rider Dane O'Neill who undoubtedly pushed the button too soon from the front as he was swallowed up late on to be beaten 2L over this C+D and a replication of those 3 runs should definitely see him go very close in a weaker race off a mark of 60. Since that last run on an artificial surface back in April, Marvelino has had 5 starts on turf and although he didn't run too badly at Brighton 2 starts back he has been poor for the most part which has coincided with him falling 6lb to a mark of 60 which allows him to get into a contest of this nature for the first time. Given how shrewd Pat Eddery is, the ability to get into a 0-60 handicap and a belated return to the AW does not seem like a coincidence to me and I think there is a strong chance he will leave that form behind him. A horse who generally likes to go from the front, he's bagged the a bad draw in stall 11 which is definitely a big negative but he does have good early speed and it is factored into the price and if tactics are to go from the front the you've got to hope he can get there from his wide draw. Dane O'Neill has had a fantastic season thus far and partnered Marvelino to 3 runner up finishes as a 2 year old and I think his experience on the horse could prove crucial in terms of judging the pace. Despite being a very shrewd individual, the form of Pat Eddery isn't inspiring with his last win coming back in June but given that Marvelino could have been handicapped on turf to attempt to win a race at this level on the AW I am certainly willing to take a chance that Marvelino is perfectly primed for a big run and if overcoming his poor draw then I think he has a great chance to land this contest at a nice price.
6.50 Southwell
Monnoyer 16/1
Scott Dixon and Tim Clark teamed up to score with Threes Grand at the weekend on what was the jockey's first ride for the stable and if a return to Southwell's fibresand brings out the best in Monnoyer then I am hopeful the in form pair can strike again off a mark of 67. After a promising juvenile campaign with Jeremy Noseda and one start as a 2 year old with Dandy Nicholls, Monnoyer had a disappointing 5 runs as a 3 year old for Scott Dixon which saw him fall from an opening handicap mark of 80 to 65 by years end. Monnoyer started his 4 year old campaign by scoring for the first time since his racecourse debut when landing a substantial on course gamble (14s into 13/2) over this C+D off a mark of 65 back in April as he scored a head under Luke Morris on seasonal reappearance back in April. In the 5 runner contest, Monnoyer was quite heavily driven from about 2f out and despite hanging left he landed the prize by a head (although he probably with very slightly more in hand) in a race that has turned out to be solid form. Monnoyer ran 2 decent races returned to turf after that at Chepstow and Nottingham in May off his current mark of 67 before disappointing on the grass on his last 2 starts and I am hoping the return to fibresand can see him bounce back. I have been very impressed with 5lb claimer Tim Clark who gave Threes Grand a cracking ride to win for Scott Dixon at the weekend and he is riding very well at the moment winning on 3 of his last 8 mounts and with him taking 5lb off Monnoyer's back he has a lovely racing weight of 8-7. Just 2lb above the mark he was successful off over this C+D back in April on his fibresand debut and with the jockey's claim, I think 16/1 looks a very big price and given how well backed he was when winning that day it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if fibresand is thought to be his best surface. Trainer Scott Dixon's yard is starting to come into some really good form now and Monnoyer has been given a lovely berth in stall 9 over this 5f trip. He's got to bounce back from a couple of disappointing shows but if Scott Dixon has got him primed for tonight's contest then hopefully he can maintain his perfect record at Southwell off a mark just 2lb higher than his relatively recent C+D success.