Southwell Preview: Deuce fancied to go in Again

Deuce Again may well have got in lightly on handicap debut in the 1m 4f contest at Southwell today (3.05) and looks a worthy favourite to land the spoils.

The John Gosden trained filly has only had three starts, and after shaping with bags of promise in two decent maidens at Newbury opened her account in facile fashion at this venue last time out.
That r
ace was over 1m 3f, and Deuce Again didn’t have to come out of second gear to cruise home hard-held by 3 3/4 lengths.

Although the four-year-old was sent off 1/3 and beat little, the manner of the success suggested that the daughter of Dubawi needed keeping firmly onside.
It also showed that Deuce Again was effective on the surface, and the extra furlong today looks sure to suit.

An opening mark of 84 certainly looks exploitable given Deuce Again’s lightly-raced and progressive profile, and another plus is that her handler does terrifically well at this venue.

Gosden has a strike rate of 66% with his runners at the venue in the past 12 months, and has been successful with 36% of his runners on the fibresand surface since 2000.
In the 5f handicap (2.30), course specialist Scarborough can get the better of Zac Brown to land the spoils.

The Mick Appleby trained filly has won four of her six starts at the track, and three have come over this afternoon’s trip.

In the last of those seven days ago, the four-year-old made all and ran on strongly to account for a progressive sort in Extreme Supreme.

Although Scarborough has to shoulder a 6lb penalty for that success and is running off a career-high of 86, the daughter of Dandy Man may well have even more to offer and her proven form on the fibresand surface is a massive plus.

Her handler also does terrifically well with his runners at the track and has a 25% strike-rate when teaming up with jockey Luke Morris, who rode Scarborough to success last time out, in the last 12 months.

The obvious danger is the progressive Zac Brown who scored in runaway style at Chelmsford City last week, but the David Barron trained gelding is yet to prove himself on the fibresand surface and that makes Scarborough look the one to be on.