Heavy Ground To Suit Cottage At Hexham

The fog was thick at Southwell this morning and it is difficult to analyse the race that Arthurthedelegator ran. He was dropped in as I thought he would be in the first furlong, but after that the field disappeared from view. When they reappeared with a furlong to go the front two were clear, but the selection was a few lengths behind and he stayed on well to hold 3rd by a neck, landing a tasty each way touch for those of us who got on early at 33s. I fancy another one at Hexham tomorrow in the 25.5f handicap at 2.45. and Cleeve Cottage should relish the return to heavy ground.

Phil Kirby has a decent strike rate at Hexham.

This 8yo son of Presenting took a while to get off the mark under rules, and his strike rate is far from prolific. Connections had to be patient with this gelding, and he eventually obliged in a class 5 novice handicap on soft ground at Uttoxeter (23.5f) on his 14th start off a mark of 95. That win wasn't out of turn, as he had run well on his previous two starts, 3rd at Wetherby (24f hvy) off 83 and then a close 2nd at Carlisle (25f hvy) in a class 4, again off 83. That form was franked when the winner, W Six Times, went on to score by 12L off 102 on his next start.

The form of Cleeve Cottage's win also took a boost when the 2nd home, who he beat by a neck, went on to finish a good 2nd again next time out off 6lb higher. Phil Kirby's charge went back into his shell after that win, though he has had excuses on his three runs since. He was well beaten in a handicap at Aintree on his final run of the season in June, and it was a similar story on his first two runs back this season. However, on all three occasions the ground was way too lively, and it was no surprise to see him beaten a distance in all three.

However, every cloud has a silver lining, and the handicapper has dropped Cleeve Cottage down to a workable mark. From a high of 103 he has fallen back to 98, and with useful claimer Nathan Moscrop taking off 5lbs he effectively races off 2lb lower than for his win. He should be fit from his two spins this season, and I think we could see a much better horse on the forecast heavy ground. Kirby has sent out 8 winners and had 21 placed from 77 runners at Hexham, and at odds of 20/1 hopefully Cleeve Cottage can bounce back to form and enhance that fine record on Wednesday.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 2.45 HEXHAM-CLEEVE COTTAGE E/W 20/1