Daily Earner

Two divisions of the 2-y-o Stakes open an eight-race Southwell card but it’s the all-aged twelve furlongs maiden that is most interesting, John Gosden-trained, Sir Pitt, in particular.
Twice-raced Sir Pitt was a ‘beaten-favourite’ last time out (158 days ago!) but ‘Big John’ has already made a good impression this past few days; fitness wont be at issue and unless either of the newcomers is ’special’ Nicky Mackay should make the winners enclosure.
By process of elimination, my time-handicap and the fact he was good enough to be seriously backed leads to an obvious conclusion, Sir Pitt is nigh on a ‘cert!’
So is Bin End, in the eight-runner handicap over two miles, if he stays and acts on fibresand!
Given that Bin End is absolutely ‘thrown in’ on the TH and Jamie Spencer is a positive jockey booking it has to be worth backing Michael Bell’s charge, and taking a chance.
‘Ding dong’ should know what’s required for the ‘deep stuff’ although he’s not a ‘favourite’ trainer, by any means.
Following his team and that of Clive Brittain is the quickest way to a ‘poor house’ (statistics/experience!) but Iptkaar is also leniently-weighted for the veteran at Kempton tonight.
Iptkaar ran moderately on his seasonal debut at Wolverhampton 13 days ago but that was an ‘iffy’* race with the favourite, Beneath, being backed as if there were no other triers!
Only a few days earlier there was another heavily backed ’shortie’, over jumps, that left a lot to be desired; no one else will mention it (why should anyone get off the ‘fence?’) but racing still isn’t squeaky clean, whatever you may read, or hear!

Selections, Southwell, 3.00 Sir Pitt; 4.00 Bin End; Kempton, 6.30 Zigato; 7.00 Iptkaar (nap).
 
* these involve colossal betting on an odds-on favourite…but winning jockeys are NOT involved!

is definitely DIKTALINA, 2.00 FONTWELL because she needs to improve considerably (after six runs!) and it’s unlikely; at 2.1 BETDAQ/BETFAIR this price is ‘WRONG’ and so…

LAY, accordingly

is talking up 2009 ‘Coventry’ winner CANFORD CLIFFS and now it’s possible to lay at 8 BETDAQ/BETFAIR which is what I’ll do having obtained ’25’s’ after his resounding Royal Ascot six lengths romp; unfortunately he was beaten in France subsequently.

Still reckon this could be the year of Beethoven!!!

Racing For Change is recommending the turf-flat season starts, officially, at Newmarket in April with the Craven meeting, isn’t that what we have been advocating for several years?
Whatever it would mean scrapping the opening Doncaster ‘Lincoln’ fixture which, last weekend, was staged over two days; it proved to be a Richard Fahey/Paul Hanagan benefit as the deadly Malton combination racked up SIX WINNERS.
Now it’s back to all-weather racing and mundaneness!
The so-called ‘hype’ which heralded the new season is, ludicrously, put on hold for a while, next stop is indeed the ‘Craven!’
Next year, hopefully, ‘change’ will be effected because the ‘Lincoln’ is a dinosaur given the AWR fixture list which provides this country with flat-racing all-year-round.
The whole structure should, in fact, be universalised and twelve month(s) seasons for both flat and jumps; January 1st to December 31st.
 
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If weather forecasts are correct Scotland is due to become a distant memory, what about other racing, just down the road?
Hopefully ’snow’ wont reach too far south and Good Faloue gets her chance in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle over two and a quarter miles of Fontwell where ground conditions will ’soft’ following another early morning soaking.

With Alex Merriam off-setting her burden 3lbs this is a genuinely ‘Good’ nap!

 Selection, Market Rasen, 3.10 Kellystown Lad (e.w); Fontwell, 2.00 Good Faloue; 3.00 Miss Saffron.