Follow The Money: Hot Sugar backed to provide a sweet success

Hot Sugar is being backed to go well at Southwell today

Today's Follow The Money selections go at Southwell and Exeter, with the latter venue providing both a back and a lay selection...

We begin at Exeter where we find our negative in the shape of Alder Mairi in the 2m3f Novices Hurdle at 14:30, who continues to drift and is now available to back at 3.39/4 having been 1.9720/21 for early money. This six-year-old has shown improvement this season on heavy going, winning her two starts either side of being well-beaten when stepping up to listed class, and comes here in fine form. However she will encounter vastly different conditions here, with the ground just on the soft side of good, and has to concede 12lb to all of her rivals due to her double penalty. With Wishes and Stars, second last year in this race, challenging her for favouritism the Seamus Mullins-trained mare can be taken on today.

Over to Southwell for our first positive where there has been steady support for Hot Sugar in the 5f Handicap at 14:40, with the gelding in to 7.613/2 from 12.011/1. Having won when dropped to the minimum trip at Lingfield at the end of last year the four-year-old has finished unplaced in his three runs since, including when running flat and finishing last of six when a short priced favourite on his next run. However, he ran with more encouragement last time out when staying on and only beaten just over three lengths and has been dropped to the same mark as his aforementioned victory. With trainer Michael Appleby's string going well at the track the money indicates he can be taken to land this competitive contest.

We head back to Devon for our final selection in Presenting Arms, who has been well-backed to land the 2m3f Handicap Hurdle at 15:00, now trading at 4.84/1 from an early 7.06/1. The six-year-old has been performing well in Novice Hurdles this season, beaten two lengths here last time out back in December after running with promise twice before at Wincanton, and makes his handicap debut today off a mark of 115. He's been running as if the slight step up in trip should suit and is fitted with a first-time tongue-tie here. With trainer Harry Fry operating at an impressive strike-rate of 50% in the past fortnight the move suggests he can lose his maiden tag.

Recommended Bets

Lay Alder Mairi @ 3.39/4 14:30 Exeter
Back Hot Sugar @ 7.613/2 14:40 Southwell
Back Presenting Arms @ 4.84/1 15:00 Exeter

John Sawyer