Southwell
2.20 5f Class 6 Handicap – Twentysvnthlancers 11/4
This gelding broke his duck on the AW in a good 0-65 on his 7th attempt, he didn’t win out of turn, he ran a huge 2nd on seasonal debut over the C&D and confirmed his form when beating favourite Warriors Valley who not only was a subsequent winner but boosted the form further when winning a much stronger 0-80 Class 4 NTO. Twentysvnthlancers only goes up 3lbs for that strong form success. Paul Mulrennan takes back the reigns who gets the best out the gelding with his record reading 41341 on his back, he also rides Southwell very well and has a incredible +£30.39 LSP the last 5 years. Also this is a slightly weaker 0-60 race than the time before.
Lingfield
3.05 7f Class 4 Handicap – Pacino 7/1
Only raced on the AW once and won his only start, that was on Wolverhampton’s tapeta surface, so will have to prove himself on polytrack but breeding indicates he’ll take to it well. Since his victory he’s been highly tried in in two class 2’s and then a crack at a more reasonable class 3 where he impressed over a unsuitable looking sprint race. Today he looks much more at home in a class 4 and his mark has dropped to a handy 76, but the main reason that I think we’ll see a big improvement is the big step up in trip to a mile, not only visually has he been asking for this but his bred for this on his mares side and if fit from a break, he’ll look very well in.
Market Rasen
4.20 2m7f Class 3 Handicap Hurdle – Back On The Lash 2/1
Looks a very genuine and tough gelding and has taken to racing very well, he won a bumper at the first time of asking at Ludlow and won over hurdles on his 2nd try again around Ludlow showing a liking to sharp right handed tracks, so Market Rasen will be perfect. His mark of 123 looks lenient and should expose it further now upped up 2 mile 4 furlongs, his dam was a 3 mile plus winner and his sire has sired many great stayers, like American, Medinas, Black Thunder etc, so an obvious stayer in the making and to win at 2 miles shows he has plenty of pace too. Trainer Martin Keighley has a good record at the course with a lifetime strike rate at 20% and +£13.28 LSP, a slightly better £14.75 over hurdles, he sends just the one to Market Rasen and books Richard Johnson who has won both his starts on the gelding and has 3 great rides at the course today, i wouldn’t put you off a small 80/1 treble on his rides.
Russell Blair Racing
