Thursday 9th January 2014

Two selections for this afternoon, and a possible evening bet. Details on that before 4.00pm either way.

1.05 Catterick Gold Show 5pts win @ 17/2 (Bet Victor, 8/1 Bet 365, William Hill, Independents, guaranteed)

Getabuzz doesn't set an exacting standard here to my mind, and he is not certain to handle the ground either. Sealous Scout looked a bit of a slowboat last time out at Carlisle and didn't help his jockey, while Johnny Og was also disappointing last time out and it has to be taken on trust that the break has freshened him up. The three trade at 2/1, 9/4 and 11/4 respectively, and I think it is worth taking them on with the mare Gold Show. She looks overpriced at the current odds, having run really well over course and distance on good ground on her penultimate start, a race franked by the second who won again next time in the race Gold Show was brought down in. It didn't look a hard fall, they were crawling and a faller simply got in her way. She has won on soft ground on the flat, travelling notably well, and the conditions might well suit her today. She also raced away from the principals on the Catterick run and may have gone closer or won if she had been produced to challenge on the near rail. 

2.20 Southwell Royal Holiday 5pts win @ 8/1 (Bet Victor, Coral, William Hill, guaranteed, 15/2 Bet 365, guaranteed)

Marjorie Fife has worked wonders with Royal Holiday since she got him from Brian Ellison. The horse had back trouble, and can be a quirky character at times who needs a lot of sweetening up. His form figures at Southwell since read 21162103, and although he is high enough in the handicap here (would need a career best to win) he is returning from a nice break and should be fresher the other horses - he has won after a similar absence in the past. He likes to lead, so won't want too much pressure on the front end, and in this eight runner field with no out and out front runner, he ought to have a relatively handy time of it up front. From there, it is a matter of whether he can hold on from the closers, and I think Dandarrell and Peter's Friend will have to be at their very best to grab him. Danny Tudhope comes back from his winter break to ride (only ride of the day) and I find the booking most interesting (record of 1213 at Southwell on the horse).

Profit & loss: day: -10.00 / month: +37.50 / year: +37.50