Southwell Preview: Risk ‘n’ Reward poised to follow-up

Risk ‘n’ Reward bolted up on debut for trainer David O’Meara earlier in the week and can make light of a 6lb penalty to follow-up in the 6f handicap at Southwell today (3.30).

The four-year-old shaped with plenty of promise on his last two starts for Martin Smith before joining O’Meara, and looked one to keep firmly onside when easily beating Run Fat Lass Run by three lengths at the track two days ago on his first start for new connections.
Risk ‘n’ Reward made a mockery of his handicap mark, travelling strongly throughout in the slipstream of the leader before taking up the running a furlong from home and powering clear.

Although that race was over 7f, the son of Dandy Man is a strong traveler who is blessed with plenty of speed and the drop back to 6f is likely to be a plus rather than a negative.

The assessor is sure to hit Risk ‘n’ Reward hard for that runaway success, so it’s no surprise to see connections turn him out quickly under a penalty.

To me he looks miles ahead of the handicapper and thrown-in under it, and it will be a shock if Risk N Reward doesn’t land the spoils with the minimum of fuss for a trainer who is superb at improving lightly-raced types acquired from other stables.

In the 1m 3f handicap (3.30), Lean On Pete can take advantage of a drop in the weights to land the spoils.

The Ollie Pears trained gelding is a tough and consistent sort who has won five and been placed 17 times from 33 runs on the all-weather.

The last of those success came over course and distance 10 months ago where Lean On Pete ran on strongly to win going away by 1 1/2 lengths off a mark of 72.

The six-year-old has since posted some solid performances to make the frame on five occasions in nine subsequent starts, including when runner-up over course and distance off 75.

Lean On Pete is now able to race off just 68, which is 4lb lower than when last successful and the lowest all-weather rating he has run off in 26 months.

It gives the son of Oasis Dream major claims from a handicapping perspective, especially with Jacob Butterfield in the saddle whose claim takes another 3lb off his back.