Graham Deed

Wednesday's horse racing thread 🧵 Southwell 1.30 Westcombe 6/4 Market Rasen 1.55 C'est Different 7/4 NEXT BEST Wetherby 2.09 Onewaywest 5/4 NAP Newcastle 4.30 Itica 5/2 (good word) Chelmsford 8.15 Grey Phoenix 11/1 each way The gamble went astray on WESTCOMBE at Leicester on handicap debut but that run wasn't without promise. He was beaten just over 4 lengths into fourth and just looked outpaced when they joined him 2f out. He goes up in trip back on the AW and given plenty of time is likely to have improved a fair bit. This looks easier and it will be disappointing if he can't get his head in front now. Age Of Time should appreciate the drop in trip but failed to run to market expectations at Lingfield and needs to settle better. I really like C'EST DIFFERENT here. He was a horse that went into my Notebook after winning at Carlisle last season. He travelled like a dream that day and was notably strong through the line. He improved again to follow up at Chepstow and again stayed on strongly. It is no surprise to see him upped to nearly 3 miles on return here and that should prove a catalyst for further improvement. The yard are absolutely flying and the ground looks perfect so hard to find too many negatives. Tranquil Sea has had a wind op since Newbury so could bounce back and emerge as the danger. Trainer Ben Pauling remains in great form having saddled 8 winners in the past fortnight alone. One of those was ONEWAYWEST who was notably impressive winning by 12 lengths at Warwick on return. He made all that day and even jumped the path suggesting he is a horse still learning his trade. He escapes a penalty for that romp as it was a conditional jockeys' event and Elliott England maintains the partnership claiming a handy 10lb off his back again. He has more to come and this trip looks ideal so there is plenty going for him again. Aire Spray didn't shape badly at Carlisle and if improving from that looks the main threat. I have to admit there wasn't a huge amount of promise from ITICA on debut but he was slowly away and wasn't given a hard time of things. He is expected to leave that initial effort miles behind now and is bred to be pretty useful being by Ulysses who was deadly over a mile. I know they think he could be a nice horse in time so if he does come forward he could have a great chance in this as it does look to lack strength in depth as those with experience don't set a high standard and most of the newcomers are expected to need it. Happy to weigh in with the gamble on what I've heard. I think it's safe to say things haven't clicked for GREY PHOENIX yet but the handicapper has given her a big chance dropping her another 4lb here. She also drops back to a mile and a quarter now which I can see helping plenty and if she settles better she could run a much better race. There is potential for the favourite Love Your Work to get taken on by Kartini and Yasmina and if that happens that could be an ideal scenario as they might do too much early and set it up for a closer and the selection appeals at a double-figure price.