7 Furlongs Could Be Just The Tonic For Autumn

Seemorelights drifted like a barge in the run up to the race and, despite being 'backed' into 25s before the off, he ran accordingly. He was always out the back, he pulled hard early and, while he did plug on in the closing stages, he never looked like reaching the frame. Tomorrow I think Autumn Tonic looks overpriced at Southwell in the opener, a 7f class 6 handicap.

Few trainers are in better form than David Barron

This 5yo son of Approve is trained by the in form David Barron, and he has had 2 winners and a 2nd from his last 5 runners. Autumn Tonic is having just his 3rd start for Barron, and he stepped up markedly on his first run for the yard when running a cracker in a class 6 classified 6f race here a week ago.

He was slowly enough away from stall 8 with the blinkers back on (retained today), and Andrew Mullen decided to chart a wide course. Autumn Tonic pulled pretty hard too in the opening furlong, and that makes his finishing effort even more impressive. He stayed on really strongly in the final stages, beaten just 1.5L in 5th. He was only a couple of necks behind Tasaaboq in 3rd, and he is 2lb better off with that rival today.

When he was trained by Simon Dow his only win came in a maiden over 6f, but he was placed over 7f on his 2nd start, arguably his best ever run. His refusal to settle has cost him in the past, and Mullen will hopefully be able to get him to race evenly behind the leaders from his good draw in stall 2. Mullen has had 2 winners and a 2nd from his last 6 rides for Barron, so it is worth taking note when they team up.

Autumn Tonic is obviously no superstar, but he definitely has enough ability to win off his mark of 52. He seemed to relish the surface on his first visit to Southwell last time and, if Mullen can settle him early and engineer a clear passage up the inner, he should have no problem getting 7f. I think odds of 14/1 look too big, and he is the each way suggestion in a wide open race.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 12.35 SOUTHWELL: AUTUMN TONIC E/W 14/1