chased leader, challenged 3f out, soon led, ridden and ran on well final furlong
held up behind leaders, pushed along halfway, headway over 2f out, stayed on into 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
soon outpaced in rear, some headway over 1f out, never a factor
led until narrowly headed well over 2f out, chased winner, no impression and lost 2nd inside final furlong
dwelt, soon chasing leading pair, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
All six have some sort of chance in this claimer, but our vote goes to SPIN AGAIN who can get the better of stablemate Northern Bolt and old rival Stonecrabstomorrow. Our selection looks the pick of the Dandy Nicholls pair on the back of a course and distance second last time. He ran into one who was too good on the day but it was still a solid effort, one that proved he acts here at Southwell. Stonecrabstomorrow was back in fifth that day and a 1lb turnaround at the weights shouldn't be enough to reverse that form, although unlike our pick Richard Fahey's horse has won over course and distance and a strict reading of the weights makes him the one to beat, so plenty will side with the seven-year-old. It'll be interesting to see what the market says about Northern Bolt in relation to our pick, but the mount of Joe Fanning hasn't been seen since November and has to prove he acts here. Not only that, our feeling is he's more a five furlong horse so despite the fact he's another with strong claims at the weights we're prepared to look elsewhere today. This looks no easier than the races Don Pele has been involved in lately, so with the veteran having not looked like scoring our inclination is to oppose him along with Cornus, another eight-year-old who himself hasn't won at the track despite many easier chances than this. Vogarth has a lot of work to do at the weights and looks held by a couple of these, from whom Spin Again gets our vote.
Spin Again (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Pushed along to chase leaders, led well over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Castle Myth (8-4) at Southwell 6f clm stks (6) fbs.
Don Pele (IRE) 7-2 (8-12) Slowly into stride, headway to chase leader after 2f until ridden over 2f out, 5th of 7, 6l behind Obe Gold (9-4) at Southwell 6f sell stks (6) fbs in Jan.
Stonecrabstomorrow (IRE) 5-1 (8-10) In rear, effort over 2f out, no impression, 5th of 7, 8l behind Castle Myth (8-4) at Southwell 6f clm stks (6) fbs.
Cornus 7-1 (8-12) Close up, ridden to chase leader over 2f out, joined leader inside final furlong, unable to quicken towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Obe Gold (9-4) at Southwell 6f sell stks (6) fbs in Jan.
Vogarth 25-1 (8-2) Slowly into stride, pushed along in rear, stayed on 1f out, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Castle Myth (8-4) at Southwell 6f clm stks (6) fbs.
Northern Bolt 6-4fav (9-0) Chased leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on, won at Catterick 5f clm stks (6) sft in Nov beating Absa Lutte (8-5) by 3l, 10 ran.
