3 minute read

Sam King returns with two selections on Tuesday…

Brighton 2.10 - Secret Handsheikh

Armed with some cut in the ground and back at his favoured venue, Secret Handsheikh should hold every chance of getting back to winning ways this afternoon. A four-time winner from eight starts over course and distance, the gelded son of Mayson clearly relishes a trip to the seaside track.

He was always in command when burning his rivals off from the front over track and trip in September, before shaping better than the bare result when fourth of six in a competitive Class 5 at Sandown a week later.

A current mark of 70 will demand more this time, but with Shay Farmer looking like fairly decent value for his 3lb claim in this type of restricted apprentice contest, there's reason to believe he could be up to the task.

John Gallagher's six-year-old possesses plenty of early speed at this level and while there are alternative pace angles on paper, it wouldn't be surprising if none could sustain the early gallop set by Secret Handsheikh from stall three at Brighton this afternoon.

Odds – 7/2

Southwell 7.30 - Miss Bodacious

We head to Southwell for our second selection of the day and I'm hopeful the return to an all-weather surface combined with the application of first-time headgear could see Miss Bodacious back in the winners' enclosure.

The Karl Burke-trained filly has been a little bit disappointing since she made an impressive handicap debut at Newmarket back in June, but she did go up 10lb for that success and has contested some warm contests subsequently.

Despite fairly disappointing efforts at Goodwood and Windsor, she was still sent off just a 7/2 chance at Thirsk last-time-out, but once again disappointed favourite backers. That said, she did post a better effort back in fourth on that occasion, shaping as though the application of first-time blinkers could see her travel with more zest over the six-furlong trip.

She shaped well when third over course and distance back in January before getting off the mark at Chelmsford second-up, so with the return to this surface an interesting angle, Karl Burke's daughter of Zoustar is given another chance now back in Class Four company off a falling mark of 79.

Odds – 7/2