Dawn Could Rise On Handicap Debut At Southwell

Western Cape hated the ground on Saturday, and he never got involved. I rarely back horses ante-post, as there are too many uncertainties. Ground is the single most important factor to consider when deciding whether to back a horse or not and, despite the forecast predicting light showers, the ones that did fall were torrential. The ground turned heavy and that spelled trouble for Western Cape. He will be a better horse on nicer ground, and he is on a workable mark.

There was an even bigger hard luck story with Pakman, who stayed on well to win the battle for third. However,the last gasp withdrawal of the Gigginstown horse meant only 7 horses took part, and that meant we missed out on each way money. We have been hitting the crossbar with a couple of frustrating 4ths, and then Pakman's 3rd, but hopefully we can get back to winning ways at Southwell tomorrow.

Robert Stephens Is A Shrewd Operator.

The one I like is trained by Robert Stephens (no relation!) and Indiana Dawn makes her handicap debut in the opener at 11.50. This 6f class 6 contest is as trappy as one would expect, and this 3yo daughter of Sleeping Indian has been handed a mark of 60 for her handicap debut after a trio of maiden runs. She ran a stinker last time out at Wolves, but I think she is better judged on her previous efforts at Bath (5.5f gd/sft) on debut and then at Windsor (6f gd/sft) on her second start.

She ran a respectable race first time up at Bath, and she finished just under a length behind Arcanista. That filly has gone close twice since in handicap company, beaten a nose off 59 next time up and then beaten 1/2L last time out off 58. The 3rd home has since won a handicap while the 2nd has gone close off 60 at Kempton.

Indiana Dawn improved for that outing next time at Windsor, running a grand race upped to 6f to finish 5th, beaten just over 2L. The form of that race hasn't worked out, but it was a nice enough run from the Stephens filly. Beschizza certainly wasn't too hard on her inside the final furlong, and she looked to finish with a little bit up her sleeve.

The hood was applied for her final maiden run, and she obviously didn't appreciate it at Wolves (5f). She was woeful from the gates, and she never raised a gallop. Beschizza didn't exactly throw the kitchen sink at her once he realised she wasn't going to be winning (around 10 yards after the start!) and she trailed home in 9th, beaten nearly 10L.

It is no surprise to see the hood dispensed with tomorrow, and she has a decent draw in stall 7. I reckon she could be a lot smarter from the gates and, hopefully, she can get a good position early on. This will be her first run on fibresand, but she appreciated easy ground on her first two runs so hopefully she should be fine on it. Stephens had one place at huge odds at Chelmsford on Monday and, hopefully, he can repeat the dose with Indiana Dawn at Southwell on Tuesday at odds of 16/1.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 11.50 SOUTHWELL: INDIANA DAWN E/W 16/1