Andy Holding is back with two tips for today's racing action from Southwell.
12:30 Southwell
TOM CREEN (best price 11/2) lacked his usual spark when bidding to win for the third time this season at Sedgefield last time out, but he deserves another chance to prove he remains capable of scoring at Class 4 level.
A dual winner at the Durham venue in the early part of the campaign, Sam England’s inmate was a warm order to complete his hat trick on his return visit 22 days ago but despite holding every chance turning for home, he failed to finish his race off with any great purpose.
Whether he just needed a break after five relatively quick runs or the heavy ground he encountered at today’s track the time before caught up with him only time will tell but either way, he still has the feel of being a reliable character.
Although his best trip up to now appears to be anything around the 2m4f area, he did go well over 3m1f on soft ground at Catterick last season and being a former point winner, he remains unexposed over today’s distance.
Apart from James Jet, the rest of today’s line-up isn’t nothing to worry about and at the morning odds, he rates a decent each-way proposition.
15:55 Southwell
TUNE IN A BOX (NAP) (best price 11/4) hasn’t been seen out since winning in the style of an improving stayer at Newcastle back in November but if he shows up here in something resembling the same sort of form, he should prove hard to beat in a race that looks his for the taking.
Campaigned over much shorter distances since switching to hurdles, Tom Lacey’s gelding was handed what looked a workable mark for his handicap debut at the Gosforth Park venue and as the market very much predicted, he proved a totally different proposition to what we’d seen before over a trip that played into his strengths.
Noted still moving well turning for home, the five-year-old grey picked up the running two out and from that point onwards he powered his way clear to a comfortable success.
Posting a decent overall time 55 days ago, it’s also worth pointing out he ran the final circuit quicker than the two-mile handicap on the same card – which usually indicates it was a fair effort by a three miler – and with today’s conditions likely to put a similar emphasis on stamina, it will take a good one to beat him if he’s in touch turning for home.
