The Sunny Southwell Sands Thread

Yes, wouldn't take serious issue with any of that. Not sure that I'd entirely blame the boy on Scale Force - a trainer of Gay's experience should surely have told him that the place you don't win here over 5f is tight up against the stands rail.

I think the Covid-jab has clouded my judgement of late - Marwari downed tools quicker than you can say Djamolidine Abdoujaparov, and I might give it a rest for a while. Still available for unwanted advice on the Superbowl, obviously (the Chiefs are a shoo-in; if you can find 4-6, fill your boots).

 

As we are close to the end of the fibresand, lets go for a final hurrah for this thread.

I went to Southwell last week for the first time, for a jumps meeting too, and what really did catch me was how perfect a track it is for all weather racing, so with the new surface I am sure they will thrive. I hope so anyway as they need some investment in the facilities.

On a side note, what a lovely racecourse for trees. If you are a tree fan (and who isn't) then Southwell in April is a must. Its also an interesting course for animals too, with the pond in the middle of the course. I will return one day.

13:00 - True Hero is the correct favourite, however he is drawn high and is the handicapper catching up with him? Interestingly his regular jockey is on my selection albeit due to riding for his regular yard. Kevin Stott is on Stars In The Night, a filly who progressed a little with racing last season. She goes to Southwell for the first time, but her sire Starspangledbanner is an eyecatcher for the surface and I think with her running style this should be perfect. The market will tell us all we need to know in regards her chances. Wade's Magic is the other interesting runner in the race and is worth a saver if you are getting involved.

1:35 - Deevious Beau is the favourite and quite rightly so, given the good performance last time. A repeat effort here should see another win in a race which doesn't look overly competitive.

 

That will do! Can they get her out on the surface again for another win before racing on fibresand ends?

 

Two from two. That will do.

 

Hope old boy Rainer is around today, lots of sprints for him to get stuck into tonight on the penultimate days racing on the sand. My views to follow.

 

5:30 - Race of the card for me, lots of very good course form on show and two runners from the Furtado yard. However it is the Fahey horse, Star Of St James, that catches my eye. This horses course form reads 21443-1145 and importantly for me he is coming back down the handicap, and is only 2lb higher than his last victory at the course. I have the form of his first victory over course and distance this season as being the best performance of any of these on the surface and I think he can put it up to Tilsitt and Straitouttacompton. The latter of those is interesting if you want to take one against the pace, he is likely to be doing the best work at the finish and could pick up the pieces if they go too hard from the front. I have had a saver on him.

6:00 - A bit more left field as only two of these have raced on the surface, but the sire form of Royal Jazz makes him a bet at 12/1. Awtaad is 2 from 2 on the surface, and Royal Jazz is from a family that has done most of their best form on the "all weather". The Tuer yard are in great form and I thought he was overpriced. Other positives on Sires are Sugar Angel (22% SR) & Dan De Light (21%).


8:00 - Two take the eye on sire stats and they are Cooperation and Queen Lagertha. The formers sire is 6 from 9 on the surface and the latter is 12 from 39. Cooperation is short in the market, but I am happy to dutch the pair still!


The other races on the card are all pretty good betting heats, but I think the horses I like are underpriced. If they drift then I will put up further selections..

 

Evening Nass, everyone, at a meeting that has an exit-music feel about it. I know that Southwell isn't a venue of legends, and I accept that fibresand may not be a particularly healthy racing surface for horses with delicate muscles or joints, but it's the one UK track where a little homework on breeding, course form and trainer-habits can give the punter a genuine edge, and I shall miss it.

Still, on to business, and course-supporter Antony Brittain brings no fewer than five here tonight. My own preference is to wait for the last one to run, which is Raabeh (7.30). This had a fairly gentle pipe-opener here a couple of weeks ago after a winter break, and a couple of runs last year suggested that he might potentially be a bit better than 50. Jessica Macey's favourite really looks very short, and I'm hoping that Cam Hardie can hold Raabeh up and bring him through late.

 

Today is the penultimate day of fibresand, the announcement of the planning permission being accepted was a final kick to the sand. The last meeting is in August!

I have quite a few I like today, need to wait a bit longer to see if the markets change but will post selections this afternoon.

 

Translation - I need to take the decent prices before passing them on to you degenerates

 

Extended translation: starting prices are for the little people. George Soros, Jake Rees-Mogg, Lex Greensill and I are entitled to graze the fertile uplands at our leisure before letting a few crumbs roll downhill.

 

Charlie D my only bet on the Southwell card today won on his only visit to the course. Because I’m a shrewdie I got 5/1 last night

 

5:20 - Qaaraat is hard to not go with at around 5/1. He is such a likeable track regular and I think the extra weight for the favourite makes him vulnerable. I can't let Red Stripes go unbacked either here at massive odds. He is the horse in this race who has the fastest C&D time and his handicap mark is so appealing. He probably won't do it again, but if he did I would be kicking myself.

5:50 - Andrew Balding does very well with his runners at Southwell and both are from sires who have favourable Southwell statistics. The hood on Winterwatch is a concern and the jolly at evens is too short. A race not to play in currently. I might be tempted to back Winterwatch in the run, but I probably will be eating my tea instead!

6:25 - I will be backing Driftwood in the place only market. He goes on the surface, normally runs on strongly in the end. I think the market has the correct two to the fore in Dabirstar and Night Of Romance but I am surprised Driftwood is such a big price and surprised at his price in the place market too.

6:55 - Market seems to have it spot on for me, albeit he is too short, the James Tate horse looks best on sire and trainer angles and has form in the book.

7:25 - Best race on the card in terms of quality, although over a trip I don't particularly like watching. The bet here is Tynecastle Park to place, 2 and 3 places. He loves this course, has good record over this trip (and 2 miles) and I do think he will be overlooked for the "sexier" types. Interesting that Selma has been replaced here in the saddle too.

7:55 - Mess of a race but two stand out - Susie Javea and Maykir. I am slightly favouring the former because I don't think we will see a pace burn up, which would suit the style of Maykir. I will be backing both in the win market.

8:25 - A proper Southwell race, so many familiar horses and some interesting angles. Crazy Spin is well drawn to attack and is one of the horses I like here, I am amazed at his price. I do like De Bruyne Horse too and Kommander Kirkup from off the pace. I am very surprised all three are double figure odds on the exchange.

 

Tend to agree on that one. Not only did he win, his time was much faster than any of Ravenscar's 3 wins. I think Tynecastle Park, who has also bettered Ravenscar's times, will be the main danger. Ravenscar is 3 from 3 at the track so would seem to like the track but his times were exceptionally slow and that stat could be misleading

 

Tynecastle Park won very nicely and the place bets were never really in doubt, very satisfied with that and then Susie Javea beat Maykir in the 7:55. A decent days racing and a couple of good results.

I do feel like I missed out in the last race, The Retriever appealed to me on first look and then I went overboard with horses with old form.

 

G'day, all. I've spent much of the past three months wondering whether to suggest a change to the title of this thread (on the grounds that tapeta doesn't contain the word 'sand'). After some heartsearching, I think it's best to leave it as it is, because the main 'solid' ingredient of tapeta is still silica sand which, although it's not the stuff you find on the beach at Blackpool, is close enough.

So, on to a richly-endowed inaugural meeting, and particularly to the valuable Class 2 fillies' handicap at 4.30. Several here will have been laid out for this, you'd think, and there's a lot of guesswork involved about how the track will ride, whether there's an early draw-bias, and the effect of what sounds like a fairly strong headwind. When Jim Goldie (Be Proud) looks south, it's usually wise to pay attention, but I'm hoping that the proven six-furlong staying capacity of Zarzyni will see her running on when the others have had enough. David Barron likes a touch, so it might be wise to watch the late market moves, and clearly there are question marks everywhere: but Zarzyni looks to me like a late(ish) developer, and we may not yet have seen the best of her.

Late edit 17.30. It wasn't Class 2, snd it wasn't for fillies. Apart from that.....

 

Oh I’m not continuing this thread. The place is dead to me now.

 

Very unlucky, Rainer, Zarzyni must have won this but for badly missing the break. Was flying at the finish.