Southwell Preview: Turning Times can strike for red-hot Appleby

Trainer Charlie Appleby is in red-hot form at present and Turning Times can provide him with another success in the 1m handicap at Southwell today (3.10).

The Goldophin retained handler has been banging in winners left, right and centre and boasts a terrific strike-rate of over 26% with his runners on all-weather surfaces in the past 12 months.

In Turning Times he has an unexposed filly who is yet to finish out of the frame in four starts and seems to be improving with every run.
The daughter of Pivotal opened her account at the third time of asking in a 1m maiden at Lingfield when making all and staying on strongly to score unchallenged by two lengths despite still showing signs of inexperience.

That win suggested that the three-year-old would have plenty more to offer when going handicapping, and that view was confirmed when Turning Times finished a highly creditable third last time out at Lingfield following a 136-day break.

After being slowly away Turning Times quickly made up ground to press the leader, and after hanging wide entering the straight stayed on well to be beaten just 1 1/4 lengths.

The way in which Turning Times finished off the race suggested that today’s extra two furlongs should suit, and the assessor has taken a chance in quickly dropping her 1lb to a mark of 76.

I will be surprised if Turning Times doesn’t prove much better than her current rating, and with the prospect of plenty more to come she looks the one they all have to beat.

Different Scenario bolted up over course and distance nine days ago and can make light of a penalty to follow-up in the 1m 4f handicap (4.10).

The Mel Brittain trained filly raced up with the pace before coming clear inside the final furlong to slam Kyllachykov by seven lengths.

The manner of her success suggested that the daughter of Araafa needing keeping onside, and it’s no surprise to see connections turn her out quickly under a 6lb penalty as she is due to go up 8lb so if effectively 2lb “well-in” at the weights.

It is going to make the four-year-old very tough to beat if turning up in the same form, and her handler is going well at present and has a strike rate of over 21% with his runners at the track in the past 12 months.