3 minute read
Athmad was narrowly denied a hat-trick last time out but can make amends in the Spreadex Sports Get £50 In Bonuses Handicap at Southwell.
A winner over a mile at the Nottinghamshire venue at the start of March, Ruth Carr then sent her charge to Wolverhampton, where he again proved too sharp for his rivals in defying a 4lb rise to win by a cosy length and a half.
The handicapper then hiked him a further 5lb and he only just failed to prevail, going down by a head after being forced to mount his challenge widest of all turning for home.
He could not reel in the keen-going winner that day, but he only just failed and remains one for the shortlist as he is due to go up another 2lb after this.
Sweet William is the choice in the Scu Selects Expert Tips By BetUK Novice Stakes after showing some promise when runner-up in two starts last term.
A half-brother to St Leger winner Hurricane Lane, he did not make his racecourse debut until the September of his three-year-old season, beaten just a neck by the now 90-rated Evania after giving plenty of trouble at the start at Kempton.
Sent off favourite to make it second time lucky on the turf at Ascot, Sweet William again had to settle for the silver medal as Cadmus had his measure by half a length, using his extra racecourse experience to good effect with the pair nicely clear.
Sweet William looks a staying type and while this may not be his optimum trip, he looks a potential class act.
Smooth Ryder can get off the mark at the seventh time of asking in the Ladies Day 2023 With Bananarama Handicap at Chelmsford.
He came within a head of victory at Lingfield last month, only to be edged out by the fast-finishing Ectocross, who was making his debut for a new yard and was the subject of some significant support.
Smooth Ryder's cause was not helped by getting tightened up in the finish and he should not be dismissed just yet.
Onesoc was all at sea stepped up in trip on heavy ground recently but should find the wetherbyracing.co.uk Handicap Chase much more to his liking.
Dropped back to just short of two miles at the Yorkshire venue, conditions appear unlikely to be as deep as he encountered when tried over two and a half miles at Newcastle last month.
Beaten 15 and a half lengths in third, Sue Smith's charge patently did not stay and is much better judged on his previous win on good ground at Southwell.
Conditions might not be quite that quick at Wetherby, but Onesoc does not mind a bit of cut and he sneaks in at the bottom of the field here.
Clody Flyer lines up in the Join Racing TV Now Maiden Hurdle and he could be a smart recruit for Donald McCain.
A point-to-point winner at Borris House in Ireland back in December, he hails from a fine school in Colin Bowe's yard.
Everyonesgame is returning from a lay-off in the Cazoo "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle.
He was up against it last time out having been beaten 20 lengths in fifth behind Stay Away Fay at Newbury when last seen in November, with the second, third and fourth all winners since to give the form an incredibly solid look behind the Albert Bartlett winner.
Everyonesgame looks the type to kick on this spring as he has just his fourth hurdles spin on the back of a wind op.
SELECTIONS:
BELLEWSTOWN: 1.20 Love Mocha, 1.55 The Snapper, 2.30 My Little Tip, 3.05 Lovejoy, 3.40 Tawaazon, 4.15 Bolero, 4.50 Star Kissed.
CHELMSFORD: 2.10 Simply Gorgeous, 2.45 Puntarelle, 3.20 Poetic Force, 3.55 Murhib, 4.30 Mc'Ted, 5.05 Smooth Ryder, 5.40 Pledge Of Peace.
CLONMEL: 4.00 Old Soul, 4.35 Eddies Pride, 5.10 Rebel Early, 5.45 Marciano, 6.15 Desert Heather, 6.45 Lilian Bland, 7.15 Toad Hall.
HEREFORD: 1.50 Prince Des Fichaux, 2.25 Everyonesgame, 3.00 Ardmayle, 3.35 Nell's Bells, 4.10 Higgs, 4.45 Play By The Rules, 5.15 The Doyen Chief.
SOUTHWELL: 5.30 Han Solo Berger, 6.00 Sweet William, 6.30 ATHMAD (NAP), 7.00 Apollo's Angel, 7.30 In The Giving, 8.00 Jenever, 8.30 Kiss My Face.
WETHERBY: 2.00 Hasty Brook, 2.35 Clody Flyer, 3.10 Captain Jack, 3.45 Onesoc, 4.20 Rumble B, 4.55 Event Of Sivola, 5.25 Support Act, 5.55 Coco Mademoiselle.
DOUBLE: Athmad and Sweet William.
