Icebuster Heads To Southwell For 20k Feature

Southwell have put on a £20,000 1m4f handicap on the fibresand this afternoon and they deserve to be rewarded with a decent field. On paper it looks like a match between two dirt specialists in Masterful Act and Hunting Ground with our own Icebuster third favourite at an overpriced 16/1!

It's Icebuster's first outing on the fibresand and it's a bit of a quandary whether he will handle the surface. Generally our horses have a decent record at the track with the majority of our horses taking extremely well to the surface, which I feel is due to the fact our woodchip gallop rides like the fibresand, especially compared to the polytrack gallops which are used in the major centres. However, many experts place a high emphasis on sire stats on the fibresand and unfortunately Iceman has a poor record (1-51) which is a concern. We have had horses in the past defy similar stats, so we always feel it is worth giving them a go on the fibresand, most of ours that do disappoint just don't face the kickback. Also in Icebuster's favour is the fact that he is a strong travelling sort that rarely gets the fast pace he craves on the polytrack, which is why he is 0-15 on the AW, with his last seven run resulting in RPRs of 87-92, rather than the fact he does not handle it. He is readily excused his latest defeat as he ran away with Patrick over two miles and did extremely well to last as long as he did. With the professional handling of David Probert and dropping back to twelve furlongs, he should perform much better today.

Even if Icebuster takes to the fibresand, he may well be coming up against two 'Southwell Superstars'! Masterful Act is five from six on the fibresand and American bred, with connections planning to aim him at the Breeders Cup Marathon. However, he is certainly better at 1m6f plus and just scraped home off a three pound lower mark from Layl (Icebuster beat him six lengths the time before) and off 91 he could be vulnerable over twelve furlongs, a trip that he met his only defeat off a mark of 67. The Johnston horse Hunting Ground is certainly unexposed, his only outing on the fibresand resulting in a seven length success from the 84 rated Saddaqa in a very good time (RPR 92/ TS 86) but disappointed back on the turf. After a break he was certainly impressive when winning by eight lengths over two miles at Wolverhampton. It was not much of a race, Flash Crash was an exposed mid 60 horse before two easy wins in weak company and the big question mark is whether he can back this form up a week later under a six pound penalty (still seven pounds well in) and that he just isn't as effective on turf as he is on an artificial surface?

So with possible question marks against top two in the market, it is certainly worth attacking a £20,000 handicap on the fibresand and well done to Southwell for putting the race on.

Shavansky ran another cracking race in a Class 2 handicap at Lingfield, finishing fourth on Saturday, once again he was unlucky, this time settling dropped back to ten furlongs but he just did not get a clear run up the short home straight and would definitely have been third and maybe done enough to win. However, for the ten year old to remain in such great form is an excellent advert for the yard.

Four Seconds In 2014 Already

The horses have generally started 2014 in good form but we have not had much luck so far with four seconds from nine runners! Hopefully it will not be long before we are off the mark.

Ice Tres has resumed from a summer break in good form and has been second on two occasions at Wolverhampton, both times she has probably hit the front too soon and been nabbed near the line. She was slightly disappointing at Lingfield on Friday but the drop back to ten furlongs may not have suited and the race could have come too soon.

Although she did not like Southwell, Ivor's Princess showed that her 20/1 Kempton success in December was no fluke when runner-up returned to the Sunbury venue under a strong ride from Luke Morris.

It looked as if we had found an ideal opportunity for Icebuster in a five runner two mile handicap at Kempton on Wednesday, but a concern over two miles was whether he would settle if there was no pace on. Sadly he was far too keen and took off with Pat with a circuit to go. Despite having a clear lead entering the home straight, he tired in the final two furlongs as his stamina gave out but he still did enough to hold on for second. He is certainly capable of winning off his current mark granted a strong pace, which is rare on the polytrack.

After unseating early on her hurdling debut and with the ground so soft we decided to return Dance to the AW. She struggled in some strong flat maidens in the summer but was placed in three bumpers and she ran a nice race to stay on for second, having been left short of room when the pace quickened. She is certainly capable of winning a race, whether she can emulate her half-sister Money Money Money and rack up five in one year we're not so sure but she has just as good an attitude!

Modem Off The Mark At Lingfield

Having just been denied on his handicap debut at Lingfield two weeks previously, Modem went one better at the end of December. This Motivator gelding has enjoyed stepping up to twelve furlongs and this long striding type will do even better on a more galloping track so should continue to improve as a four-year-old.

That was our 21st winner of 2013 and the yard picked up over £165,000 during the year. Let's hope 2014 brings plenty of winners. A review of 2013 will appear on the site soon.