Shaw’s Charge Could Find Spiritual Home At Southwell

We drew a blank yet again in the Lanzarote with Dino Velvet. There was a bit of each way money around for him before the off, but bar for a fleeting moment down the far side it never looked as though he would be involved at the finish. He looked to be travelling okay, but as soon as there was an injection of pace he was found wanting. I would imagine they will still try to get a run into him at Cheltenham, but given his current rating it won’t be at the festival.

Derek Shaw has a fine record at Southwell.

On Sunday I am having a small each way bet on one at a massive price in the last at Southwell, and I think Emigrated could go well for track specialist Derek Shaw. This very well bred 5yo has failed to live up to his illustrious pedigree, and some good trainers have tried to conjure a win out of him. Jessie Harrington and Gavin Cromwell couldn’t crack the code with Emigrated, but I think Derek Shaw could be the right man for the job.


He knows this family well, as Emigrated is a half brother to stable stalwart Loyalty. Emigrated is by Fastnet Rock, so it is no surprise that Shaw took a chance on him given that sire’s good strike rate at Southwell. His progeny have displayed a definite fondness for fibresand, and from a total of 40 runners at the track he has had 7 winners and 15 places. That is a frame hitting strike rate of 55% and Emigrated showed promise here on his first start for Shaw.

He was hampered at the start in that mile maiden handicap, and after being shuffled back he was soon switched very wide by Paddy Mathers. He stayed on the outside for the entirety of the race but even so, as they turned for home he was finding well for pressure. 2f out it looked as though he might stay on to press for a place, but his wide course eventually took its toll and he kept on at the one pace for 6th. He was well behind the winner but I thought it was a pleasing effort.

He built on that run when not beaten far at all in another mile handicap at Chelmsford just four days later, getting outpaced as they came out of the back straight but staying on well for 5th, beaten just over 2L for the win. He was sent off at just 6/1 upped in trip to 10f at Chelmsford just a week later but he ran a stinker and he has been given a month off to recover from those three quick runs.

I think that Shaw has targeted a race back at Southwell for Emigrated after his encouraging effort here for him last month, and also because of Fastnet Rock’s stats at the track. Three quick runs in succession will have done wonders for his fitness, and he should be in tip-top shape on his return  from a month's break off a bargain basement mark of 45. Shaw has a fantastic record at Southwell, sending out 31 winners and 83 top 4 finishers from 222 runners in last 5 seasons.

Emigrated has been handed a nice draw in stall no.5 and hopefully there is no drama at the start this time. There are a couple of front runners in the race so this should be run at a good clip, and the quicker they go the more it should suit Emigrated. Hopefully he can stay within striking distance in the early stages and doesn’t get completely outpaced. If he does he could be dangerous, and hopefully he stays on late to reward each way support at odds of 25/1.


STEVOS’ SELECTION: 15.55 SOUTHWELL-EMIGRATED E/W @ 25/1