PADDOCKS PATENT (TUESDAY)

13:10 Southwell Despite some top quality mid-week jumps action we start today’s selections off in the sand and on the flat at Southwell. The horse that seems to be on the lips of everyone in this race is top weight Uncle Brit. A course and distance winner that is below its last winning mark and did well when finishing second last time out. All this said however I certainly think the horse is there to be shot at and hasn’t won for a good while. I just think it may find younger, up and coming horses too much in this. One of those younger up and coming horses that should cause the favourite some problems recently changed hands to a new trainer. David O’Meara did well with its first race when finishing fourth of twelve on the all-weather last time out. The horse is of course the maiden Vied. Despite the horse not making a winning start on a race course from nine attempts it certainly stepped up a lot in its last run and if it comes on again should have enough to take a hand in this. An additional positive has to be the booking of in form jockey Silvestre De Sousa who’s been doing well at the end of the flat season and gas bagged a few wins on the sand recently. Vied (E/W if 5/1+)

13:30 Redcar Sticking with the flat as we head up to Redcar and their third race on the card. It’s a very open mile handicap with only one of the twelve runners winning this season. I’m going to be using trainer and jockey form to pick out my selection in this and it doesn’t get much better than the pairing of Paul Hanagan and Richard Fahey. Both jockey and stable are flying as the season draws to a close and they team up here with four year old gelding Brooke’s Bounty. A step up to nine furlongs on good ground didn’t seemed to suit and the drop back down to a mile with softer conditions should be more to his liking. Of the remainder the most likely danger, if it can retain its ability after a year off, is Jim Goldie’s Idyllic Star. A horse that did very well when it was last seen on a race course but a lot has to be taken on trust with this runner and although I would argue it wouldn’t have to be at its best to take a hand in this I’m just not prepared to take that chance. Brooke’s Bounty (E/W if 5/1+)

18:10 Kempton We end today’s picks the way that we started them, on the all-weather as we take in a race from Kempton’s early evening meeting. Richard Hannon sends two in to this race and both Crickelwood Green and Showpiece have to be respected. Of the two Showpiece seems the most likely danger. Another threat to my final choice is Godolphins Ghazi who, despite a disappointing eighth placed seasonal reappearance, promised a lot when winning its maiden and could run our final selection very close. Although not likely to be a great price I just can’t see past the favourite. George Baker rides the course and distance winning Glorious Sun who was mightily impressive when losing its maiden tag. It will need to take a step up in terms of today’s competition but it won that well I think it more than has it in its locker to do so and take the victory. Glorious Sun (WIN)

by Rory Paddock