Russian Could Return To Form At Thirsk

Feel The Vibes finished a well beaten 6th at Lingfield, travelling wide and finding nothing up the home straight. Perhaps 10f was a bridge too far under those tactics on soft ground, but keep an eye out for when he returns to the all weather. Whether it is a mile or 10f he looks a well handicapped horse, and if he gets back to the form he showed at the turn of the year he will pick up a bad race during the winter, no doubt at a big price.
 

Galway man Graham Lee is a pilot I have massive respect for.

Thankfully, Compton’s Finale ran a much better race at Bellewstown, beaten just over 2L by Nitro Boost in 3rd. Shane Foley gave him a lovely ride, getting a good prominent position early from stall 15. As they hit the 2f pole I thought Compton’s Finale might go on and win, but he got unbalanced at the road crossing and after that it was curtains. It was a very promising effort in what looked a decent maiden, and I am looking forward to seeing how he goes next time.

I had a good look at Friday’s cards and one horse that interested me was Russian Realm in the 6f handicap at Thirsk at 4.45. Paul Midgeley has his string in super form and this fella won his only previous start at the track (over 7f). His last win came in August last year at Haydock (6f soft) and he ran off a mark of 81 that day. He is just a pound higher here and he has won on ground ranging from soft to good to firm, so he won’t be worried about the weather.

Dougie Costello, who was on board for Russian Realm’s last win, gets the leg up on Midgeley’s other runner, Captain Colby. Graham Lee will be in the saddle on Russian Realm instead, and for me that is a big plus. I am a massive fan of Graham Lee, going back to his days as stable jockey to tricky jumps trainer Ferdy Murphy, and he did me plenty of favours on good old Hawkeyethenoo on the flat, among plenty of others.

Russian Realm showed two runs back at Epsom that he was still well capable of mixing it at this level when 2nd of 16 beaten less than 2L off 83 over 6f on good ground.  He was beaten less than a length on his first two starts this season off 82, and he races off the same mark here. He has to be forgiven two poor runs on his last two starts but given his only previous visit to Thirsk resulted in victory there is every chance he will bounce back to form. At odds of 20/1 he is a confident each way selection.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 4.45 THIRSK-RUSSIAN REALM E/W @ 20/1