Yesterday’s Review

0.5pt e/way Ladypacksapunch (94) – The slowest race on the card which wouldn’t have suited the selection challenging from near last position. However, trainer Grace Harris did a fine job preparing her for this race and she performed very well to take fourth place at the finish, just beaten a quarter of a length for third at a starting price of 80/1. Some readers were paid out on the fourth place from some of the minor firms, but she will go down in the book as a loser, and they can take it as a bonus. There should be a little race in her this winter, as she looks equally effective on the sand as the turf.

Today’s Advice

Bernard Spierpoint (4f 214y Hcap) – This seven-year-old has shown unusual consistency at the back-end of this season when winning three races in a row both on the sand and the all-weather. In the past he has looked to struggle to perform similarly. Today’s minimum trip for the (4.30) Southwell would not have been one of his better course and distances in the past, however, he performed remarkably well with the welter burden of 10st 11lbs last time out over course and distance just going down by a half length in fifth place behind Fortunate Star in an Amateur Jockey’s contest. He raced in touch that day, and only wilted late on having made a decent challenge inside the final furlong. A reproduction of that effort would give him a live chance in today’s (0-62) handicap, and jockey Jason Watson (who won on him at Brighton in September) is back on board. Considering the excellent recent form of trainer Daryl Holland he looks worth an interest at the prices on offer.

0.5pt e/way Bernard Spierpoint (17/2 William Hill, 15/2 Ladbrokes/Coral) 4.30 Southwell