Horse Racing Tips: Salute Soldier's Southwell chance

Pontefract, 14.57 - Back Kokanee @ 9/43.25

Kokanee made the perfect start to his three-year-old campaign with a first-time out victory at Beverley, however that was as good as it got for Ed Dunlop's gelding who failed to add to that success in six subsequent starts.

Connections were keen to step up the Kameko gelding to 10 furlongs on his next four starts following his win on the Westwood, but it didn't prove a successful experiment as, with the exception of a poorly-judged ride at Sandown which saw the selection produce the fastest closing percentage of the race, the selection struggled to make an impact.

Returned to a mile at today's venue in October, Kokanee was a little unlucky not to take advantage of a slipping mark as he was caught in a pocket all the way up the straight and could never truly land a blow under Hector Crouch.   

That race worked out exceptionally well with five of Kokanee's rivals on scoring on their subsequent start and, although Dunlop's charge was subsequently beaten at Newmarket, he looks worth supporting now he returns to a track where he has already proved his effectiveness.

Southwell, 19.30 - Back Trojan Soldier @ 11/43.75

Just four runners are scheduled to go to post for this staying handicap, but it appears a trappy enough affair given you can make something of a case for each of the quartet.

The layers may well make Analogical favourite following his encouraging return at Lingfield in the cheekpieces over a trip arguably short of his best.

His trainer switches the headgear here, preferring blinkers, and he is sure to be tough to beat given he looks a typical Heath House Stables inmate with sizeable reserves of stamina which are, as yet, totally untapped.

While Analogical and recent Newcastle scorer Clansman are respected, Trojan Soldier gains the nod with the cheekpieces hopefully proving the catalyst to a deserved first triumph.

Winless after nine starts, five of which have come on the all-weather, Jedd O'Keefe's son of Ulysses has been beaten a neck and a half-length on his last two trips to the track, splitting two horses from major stables on his penultimate start, and narrowly failing to reel in the track lover Skycutter six weeks ago.

Hopefully, he can gain a measure of compensation here.  

Now read more horse racing columns here