Timeform Racing Radio Tip: Just what the Doc ordered

David Cleary brings you two bets from Southwell

With just Southwell left standing, David Cleary concentrates on the fibresand action, highlighting two bets...

And then there was one. Newbury and Doncaster have been forced to abandon due to snow, leaving just the additional fixture at Southwell to keep the show on the road, from the six that were due to take place in Britain. As at Doncaster, the centrepiece of the Southwell card is a mile handicap, due off at 15.10, though it looks slightly more solvable than the Lincoln might have been, with just seven going to post.

Dubai Hills and Frontier Fighter dominate the market. The former has a tremendous record on the fibresand surface and was impressive when taking advantage of a drop in the weights returned to it last time out. Dubai Hills has gone back up 10 lb in the weights for that but that may well not be enough to stop him. Frontier Fighter has looked really good on his last two starts, the first of them here, and is unexposed still, though this is by much his toughest assignment. Dubai Hills may well win, but it's arguable that one of the other runners this afternoon is overpriced against him, namely Docofthebay.

He ran his best race in ages when winning a handicap here in February, taking his tally on this surface to two wins and a narrow defeat in three tries. He ran as well as could be expected at listed level at Wolverhampton last time, and while he races mainly at shorter distances these days - his win came at seven furlongs - he is fully effective over this afternoon's trip. The abandonment of Doncaster means that Luke Morris, who was on board for that success, takes the ride again. Docofthebay is offered as a tentative alternative to the short-priced favourite.

The preceding six-furlong handicap at 14.35 is altogether a less exalted affair and, though it has an open look to it, it could be a good chance for Thorpe Bay to win for Michael Appleby at the second time of asking. Although he found winning hard for his previous trainer, his only success coming in a six-furlong claimer here, Thorpe Bay made a good start for his new yard when just touched off in a five-furlong handicap here earlier in the week. A reproduction of that run will make Thorpe Bay hard to beat off the same mark. 

Recommended Bets:

Back Docofthebay @ 9.08/1 in the 15.10 at Southwell
Back Thorpe Bay @ 4.57/2 in the 14.35 at Southwell

Get open access to Timeform data for just 2.50 a day with Timeform Race Passes. It's like a Form Book, Black Book & Race Card all in one! Find Out More!