Southwell Trixie for today

On a difficult day where margins were minimal there was little surprise that the middle part of yesterdays card filled up big price winners. MASTERPAVER was a welcome winner and the win of Dance for Georgia was due reward for its past performances. The run of Layla's Boy was inexplicable as was excused in the stewards room by Adam Kirby by reporting that 'The gelding moved poorly' ;) and I wondered to myself if that excuse is sufficient what purpose do the stewards really have in such instance!.

Today: It may be fool hardy to go against my Sire stats in the Southwell 1:35 but find EXCEL BEST’s performance over C&D more attractive than that of Slinky McVelvet. I also have a preference to see what the two debutants who make up the remainder of the field can do on the surface before given them consideration.

Piceno, Barbados Bob and Arabian Flight all set a reasonable standard on trip and surface in the 2:10 but feel that Alan Brown may have placed his lightly raced 4yo MARCIANO cleverly here and although untried over the surface the progeny of Pivotal have a 38% for the grade and trip. It could be that another debutant to the surface in Sam Spade will chase it home.

Both Moss Hill and Offbeat Safaris ran below expectation when last seen here and it would be no surprise to see improvement come from greater familiarity with this surface. Heidi’s Delight has performed well on the surface but I am not convinced that this trip will play to its strengths. MUCKY MOLLY is now on a lower mark than when winning over C&D in a similar event back in March and having Graham Lee in the saddle is an added bonus.

Have a fun one!

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