Tuesday 28th August 2012

Three interests this evening at Southwell.

1pt each-way double on If You Can and Feeling Good, 4/1 and 8/1 generally, use a bookmaker who offers guaranteed prices for multiple bets.

5.20 Southwell If You Can 3pts win @ 9/1 (Boylesports, VC Bet, guaranteed, 8/1 generally guaranteed)

Represents a trainer who seems to have started targeting Southwell in the manner of Brian Ellison and other Northern trainers. It is interesting Easterby's horses at Southwell this summer have performed well on their first visit to the track, which was not always the case in the past. The selection might just be well handicapped on his form from Beverley last time, where he was sent into the lead at a really brisk pace, eventually tiring but matching strides with an OR80+ type for most of the journey. The trainer has booked a jockey with a 25% record at this track for this evening's assignment, and from a lowly mark of OR52, the selection looks open to improvement. Sire Ifraaj has a 14% strike rate at this track and the selection's half brother won here.

5.50 Southwell Feeling Good 5pts win @ 4/1 (Generally, guaranteed)

Gelded first time for this evening's contest. Races against horses unproven at the track, but Feeling Good has already posted some good figures here. He returns after a break and has the services of a very good 3lb claimer who has already won for this trainer at Ripon today. 4/1 looks too big and an each-way double with the first selection might also pay dividends.

6.50 Southwell Lucky Mark 1pt each-way AND 1pt win @ 25/1 (Generally, get guaranteed)

Represents a trainer who is something of an unknown, but seems to have acquired some decent horses including Capone, who is entered in the Ayr Gold Cup. He also had a first time out two year old run well over 5 furlongs at Pontefract the other day. Lucky Mark has one piece of form for Debbie Sanderson that puts him in with a shout tonight. His run behind Intense Pink over six furlongs on a bog was really interesting, he showed plenty of early speed and only faded from the furlong pole onwards. Backing three year olds against older sprinters is not usually my thing, but the older horses here are bog standard, and the booking of Robert Winston takes my eye. 25/1 is good value.

Profit & loss: day: -13.00 / month: +50.25 / year: -81.21