David Massey provides today's Punting Pointers and he's got two tips for the evening card at Southwell.
Racing betting tips: Saturday January 3
0.5pts e.w Homer Stokes in the 18:00 Southwell at 9/1 (bet365 1/5 1,2,3,4, min 15/2)
1pt win Edwardtheninth in the 20:00 Southwell at 5/1 (bet365, min 7/2)
A very competitive fillies and mares handicap, but maybe catching Party Bear fresh is the key to her, and she’s worth an investment tonight.
A head second on her reappearance last year, she had a short break and came back to win at Wolverhampton on her next start and then dotted up over this C&D, looking a much improved performer. Her form after that wasn’t so good, but neither was it awful, with some ready excuses for a couple of poor efforts (badly hampered Newcastle) and the fact her season ended in July rather suggested all wasn’t well. Clearly she can go well after a break, and she still looks fairly handicapped on her win here.
18:00 Southwell
The question to ask here is whether Homer Stokes is likely to need the run after 82 days away from the track, because if he’s fit and ready to go, the rest might not see which way he went.
Back in the summer of 2023 he won back-to-back 0-60 handicaps (after a 186-day absence too, so some positive evidence he can go well fresh there) and although he drew a blank last year, that was somewhat in line with many from the yard - just the 12 winners in the calendar year for David & Nicola Barron. They haven’t had a winner since October either (from a very limited number of runners, to be fair) but of their last four, two have hit the frame at prices, and another has run respectably, so there are some green shoots of recovery. Basically, Homer Stokes can outclass this lot if he’s on song, and is the one to beat.
Arc Zoosve and Fascinating Shadow fought out the finish at Wolverhampton three weeks ago, the former coming out on top and whilst both have their chances again here, preference is for Ruth Jefferson’s Edwardtheninth, who seems to have improved for the switch to her yard and being given a bit of time to mature.
Bred to be better than a 55-rated maiden, he was going nowhere for Marcus Tregoning back in 2024 but given a year off, was unlucky not to win first time for Jefferson at Newcastle (well backed), constantly denied a run until too late and only beaten half a length. Sent off odds-on next time he ran poorly but was found to be moving poorly by the racecourse vet after, so that’s easily forgiven, and he bounced back to form when third to Mr Zippi over 14f here last time, looking just in need of the run and a step back up to two miles. He looks capable of better and should take some stopping tonight.
Afternoon tips
1pt win Sunset Marquesa in the 14:25 Sandown at 11/2 (General, take no lower)
1pt win Hot Fuss in the 15:35 Sandown at 5/2 (General, min 9/4)
14:25 Sandown
We’re both keen on the chance of Sunset Marquesa here, who has looked more a longer-term project than a few of these and she looked very much like she was coming to hand when a ready winner from Shantwopointfive here last time, winning with something in hand. She was quietly fancied for the valuable Grade 2 Mares Final at Newbury back in the spring but things went wrong quite early there, badly hampered on the way to the first and then falling at the next.
Jubilee Alpha is clearly the one to beat on form but she’s well found in the market, and the progressive Sunset Marquesa represents a bit of value against her.
15:35 Sandown
Hot Fuss isn’t the biggest but he looked very well in the paddock at Ascot last time and duly ran a cracking race to finish second to Wilful in what those of a certain age will remember as the Ladbroke. He had all the “right” horses around him there, which suggests the form is very solid, and although the handicapper has nudged him up the weights for it, he still looks on the right side of him at present.
Preview posted 09:15 GMT on 03/01/26
Want to know more about horse welfare within our sport?
2025 successes
- Jacques Clouseau 8/1
- Gogo Yubari 7/2
- Ali Star Bert 100/30
- Rossbridge 9/2
- Kala Conti 5/2
- Found A Fifty 100/30
- Hold Up La Colmine 9/2
- Ben Solo 9/2
- Eldorado Allen 17/2
- French Emperor 15/2
- Lud'or 9/2
- Iddy Wood 9/2
- Jager Time 11/2
- Susie Sioux 3/1
- Smooth Silesie 13/2
- Sticktotheplan 6/1
- Daryz 11/1
- Expressionless 9/1
- Blue Jay Way 11/1
- Revival Power 13/2
- Yanifer 10/1
- Saddadd 5/2
- Dark Cloud Rising 11/2
- Forglen 13/2
- Brazilian Belle 11/4
- Red Panda 17/2
- Bearwith 7/2
- Nogo’s Dream 2/1
- Alpha Magic 20/1
- Minnie Hauk 5/1
- Gore Point 17/2
- Molten Sea 6/1
- Pay Attention 5/1
- Laser Focus 13/2
- Phaedra 2/1
- Eldrickjones 8/1
- Straight F/C Cosmic Year/Marvelman 28/1
- Pink Eyed Pancho 12/1
- Pep Talking 7/2
- Ultra Beat 7/2
- Les's Legacy 13/2
- Coniston George 9/2
- Fairlawn Flyer 12/1
- Finn Lough 9/2
- Magma Sam 9/1
- Hawajes 9/2
- Trouble Man 3/1
- Royal Jewel 11/4
- Mr Vango 5/1
- Jack Sprat 11/4
- Ormolulu 100/30
- Khangai 9/2
- Jimmy Knocker 6/1
More from Sporting Life
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
