A Family affair for the Reveley's at Southwell on Wednesday

A Family affair for the Reveley's at Southwell Wednesday

The weekend has thrown up a host of more questions, as opposed to answers. Swincombe Flame successfully taking the money in the William Hill Lanzariore Hurdle, under a terrific ride from young Will Kennedy, only to be tarnished with a 7 day ban for excessive use of the whip from the stewards under the shambolich new penalty system. Horses of note that come out well this weekend are Cotton Mill, Menorah, Saddlers Risk and others also laid down further credentials for their possible future dates at the Cheltenham Festival.

It has been another terrific week for the column's most promising young jockey JAMES REVELEY, who made a fine comeback from a potentially serioous concussion on Boxing Day with two winners on his first two runners back, completing a 70/1 double at Doncaster on Wednesday. He is back up north again Wednesday, with a terrific book of rides for his old man, and I think every single one of them has to be considered as having a good chance. In the last 12 months James has a 36% strike rate at Southwell, and in his last 11 rides there, has had 4 winners and a further 4 places.

Going through his rides, there are some with stronger claims than others, with an interesting one being SAMBELUCKY in the first. He has been in good form throughout the winter since winning a decent Catterick handicap, with the form coming out of the race working really well. He followed that up by a third, then a second at Huntingdon Friday, behind a seemingly well handicapped horse.
The best bet of the day looks certainly to be CORKAGE, who made amends for falling when seemingly having the race at his mercy at Catterick two starts ago, but duly obliged on James' first ride since injury at Doncaster in grand fashion. He travelled exceptionally well, and given the manner of his eight length victory, turned out under a 6lb penalty, he should be well ahead of the handicapper, to duly oblige for connections.

SAM D'OC was pulled up last time out after struggling with his jumping, when running in the same race as Sambelucky, when he finished third, and as such, is tried over hurdles here in the 1.45. The horse looked scared of the larger obstacles, and the move to hurdling could sparkle some old magic in the maiden, and could be a large price and a sleeper in the market.

NIGHT IN MILAN is another consistent sort who has been knocking on the door, with an unlucky second at Sedgfield, followed up by a rather laboured fourth at Market Rasen, when struggling with a 5lb hike from the handicapper. The well bred son of Milan carries the famous colours of Mr Richard Collins, and those have been seen to great effect this year, the white silks, with a blue V and a pink hat. The trainer/owner combo has placed in 45% of all stats, a comforting stat, and will be hoping to build on only one win in the last six weeks.

OAKSLANDS ELISE runs in the last, a National Hunt Flat race, and on paper, looks a very interesting prospect. Bred out of a multiple winning mare, and comes from a successful family, including two half brothers who have both won bumpers in the last 18 months. The stable are usually quite good at getting them ready first time out, with a 27% strike rate showing a +£7 profit to a £1 stake backing them in NHF races,

12.40 Southwell - Sambelucky (Nb)
13.10 Southwell - Corkage (Nap)
13.45 Southwell - Sam D'oc
14.50 Southwell - Night in Milan
15.55 Southwell - Oaklands Elise

The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner @JJMSports

Thursday Tickle - Tipping 14/12/11 - Towcester, Exeter and Southwell

A brief column before a more detailed look at Saturday’s racing; however there are a some interesting runners Friday, which although at short prices, could be worth perming up, or at least keeping an eye on for the rest of the season.

JP McManus likes to have runners on every card at every National Hunt meeting, and stable jockey AP McCoy goes to Towcester as opposed to Exeter, to take some decent looking mounts for his boss, as well as some promising juveniles for Nicky Henderson. His stand out ride looks to be RATE OF KNOTS, who just loves the soft ground, being campaigned almost exclusively in the last year, in an attempt to get the best out of mare. She finished a hearty, yet unlucky second on her first run for 266 days, when going clear, yet blundering the last month under Richie McClernon, and still rallied in the final strides to only go down by a length. She showed great heart and character, and a replication of that form can take the 2.40.

The Pipe stable are in good form as of late, with the main eye catcher being Tom Scu giving Buddy Balero a terrific ride on Buddy Balero Tuesday in the famous Malcolm Denmark silks, an owner with an attractive string this term. Scudamore goes to Towcester rather than Exeter, and his best chance seems to be CLOSE HOUSE. Showing good form last season, he was well supported on first attempt hurdling, and can be considered rather unlucky, with Tom losing his irons three out, and yet the four year old still showed promise of staying on late on. The ground was very soft that day, and if it could go good-to-soft, it will give the gelding an even greater chance.

One of the stable’s most progressive horses last term was ARRAYAN, who failed completing his hatrick bid, when unseating at the last hurdle in a grade 3 handicap, when ten lengths clear and seemingly home. He finished a respectable 9/18 on his reappearance this term, won by the highly respected Poungach for champion trainer Paul Nicholls, and is expected to come on for the run.

A short priced fancy for tomorrow is ROYAL CHARM for Paul Nicholls in the Betfair Graduation Chase at Exeter. He was a tough, game novice chaser last year, including winning this very race. He finished behind Medermit and Wishful Thinking, two of last seasons star novice chasers, and was unlucky when falling 4 fences out in Future Stars Chase at Sandown last time out when tanking along. He has 7lb in hand on official ratings and a big challenge is expected.

Last but not least, GREYFRIARSCHORISTA seems streets ahead of the handicapper, and will be similarly short in the 1.30 at Southwell. Since being claimed by Brian Ellison from Mark Johnston, he is 2/2, and punted off the boards in both starts. He runs with a 6lb penalty, but given the cosiness of both victories, the handicapper is sure to have fun when reassessing, and appears to be a penalty kick under Barry McHugh who was on board last time out for his 10 lengths victory.

13.10 Towcester - Close House

13.20 Exeter - Arrayan

13.30 Southwell - Greyfriarschorista (Nap)

13.50 Exeter - Royal Charm

14.40 Towcester Rate of Knots

The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner / @JJMSports