Timeform Daily: Treat The Kids At Half Term Fillies' Handicap (Class 5), Southwell, 4.00

Race of the Day Preview / Timeform / 15 January 2009 / Leave a Comment

Timeform assess the runners in the last race at Southwell today.

Six are declared for this 0-75 handicap for females aged four or above and it contains a progressive sort in John Berry's To Be Or Not To Be, winner of her two most recent races at Kempton and Wolverhampton respectively.

Leaving William Jarvis after her sole start at two, To Be Or Not To Be wasn't seen again until October last year. Once completing her three requisite runs in maidens, To Be Or Not To Be was sent straight into handicaps from what looked a lenient mark and she took little time in making it count when scoring on her handicap debut in late-November by a neck from the reliable Blue Charm (who was to win on his next start).

The follow-up at Wolverhampton was more straightforward, To Be Or Not To Be this time pulling a length clear from another subsequent winner in Alqaahir, though she showed signs of inexperience once in front (carrying her head awkwardly). Raised a further 5 lb for that win, To Be Or Not To Be looks to remain on the up and if not today, there will almost certainly be more to come from her when facing a greater test of stamina.

The only contender in close proximity to To Be Or Not To Be on the adjusted Timeform ratings is Sweet Gale, with trainer Mike Murphy hoping she can supply him with his first winner since June. Sweet Gale has shown her form just once in five runs for Murphy, that coming over this trip at Kempton in September when she was seventh behind the now useful Ethaara. Now rated 7 lbs lower, Sweet Gale would look relatively well-treated if able to show that level of form again, though with a lack of confirmed front-runners in the race her free-going tendencies shown in recent efforts may again come to the fore.

Another Genepi seems at home over this course and distance, having recorded two wins and two seconds from five starts. Her most recent attempt was the exception when Another Genepi finished fifth behind Captain Macarry with no obvious excuse. Although rated 2 lbs lower officially than on that day, Another Genepi would be vulnerable to an unexposed rival.

A potentially interesting candidate is Milton of Campsie. Just 13 days after winning a maiden at Redcar in May she was pitched into the Irish 1000 Guineas, where although performing admirably in the face of such a stiff task probably didn't quite see the trip out. Given a break of six months after her next start, Milton of Campsie shaped as if in need of the run at this course last time over six furlongs. Given the form of her maiden win Milton of Campsie could well be favourably-handicapped and a plunge in the market could be significant.

The other two have doubts surrounding them. Aegean Pride is no forlorn hope in terms of her handicap mark, however there must be concerns surrounding the surface as she was well held on her only previous start here, for all that the form of that race has worked out favourably. Indian Diva struggled for Paul Blockley in the second half of 2008 and has much to find on even the pick of her recent form.