Ian Ogg's Sunday Nap won at 9/4 and now Matt Brocklebank provides his best bets from around the tracks on Monday.
A breathing operation last winter seemed to have done point-to-point recruit DAVIDOC plenty of good as he won his maiden hurdle first time back in April before a creditable second on handicap debut at Warwick the following month. The winner, rated 95 at the time, is now up to 116 having scored three more times since so it was clearly a fine effort from Ben Pauling's horse in retrospect. He resumes off just 1lb higher here and the yard has already been among the winners too so he's a confident selection.
ATHERSTONE BEAU hasn't exactly improved rapidly since her debut third at Catterick in July but she's held her form reasonably well and looks up to going very close on nursery debut last month. The opening mark (65) certainly seems fair after finishing second to Obsidian Dream, who was giving the selection 5lb at Bath but is now rated 77 after solid runs at Newbury and York subsequently. Importantly, there doesn't appear to be much early pace in this small-field event so Atherstone Beau's jockey David Probert may have a tactical advantage if allowing his mount to go forward.
With The Eyes Have It taking a drop in trip and Alcazan seemingly in the grip of the assessor, a chance is taken on THURSDAY'S CHILD in Monday's sprint handicap at Pontefract. The three-year-old filly was a winner over course and distance in testing conditions back in April and showed she could be effective off marks in the low-80s when second at Carlisle (soft) on her penultimate start. The latest Southwell performance wasn't quite so promising but that's why we're getting a bigger price back here and conditions should be absolutely ideal following more rain in the area on Sunday.
A decent seven-furlong handicap at Wolverhampton can go the way of Harry Charlton's SO QUIET. Returning from a 97-day break, the chestnut went off 6/4 favourite for a similar race at Kempton late last month and could only finish fourth but he was a bit short of room around a furlong from the finish and wasn't seen to best effect on the night. That outing is entitled to have done him some good anyway and he gets another chance off the same mark at Wolverhampton, with James Doyle coming in for the first time in the saddle (2-4 for the yard in all-weather races so far in 2024). There is plenty to like on this occasion.
Frankel filly BERNALDA looks likely to appreciate a switch to Southwell and her latest Wolverhampton effort - when fifth to a progressive gelding in Ajdayet - probably wants marking up as she had to wait for a run and just didn't have the change of gear when required to pick up. She boxed on pretty well once in the clear heading for the line but is probably better judged on her half-length third at Newmarket the time before. Unexposed over the mile and eased back down to the same mark as at Newmarket, she looks worth chancing in this company from stall two.
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