Southwell Races- 22nd February

The bitterly cold wind put a bit of a negative slant on the day, with it being the day for outsiders, only two favourites winning and three were placed. The two most memorable races came reasonably late in the day at 3:45 and the 4:20.

In the 3:45 many of the horses were equal in the first furlong until Foolaad and Archimedes made headway just after the first furlong marker to lead the pack having Poyle Vinnie, Ascot Day and Erissimus Maximus give chase. The field didn't change much throughout the race everyone else trying really hard apart from Foolaad and Erissimus Maximus who sat smooth up to one furlong out, where Poyle Vinnie who had a struggle getting through the pack had to be switched at this point and when he got room under Luke Morris he could challenge. Foolaad who didn't find the race too difficult stayed on well along with Erissimus Maximus. Whilst there were a few one paced horses in the closing stages such as Archimedes and the disappointing Captain Lars who after chasing leaders 2 furlongs out eventually had nothing else to give after drifting to the far rail. This sprint was won by Foolaad by 1/2 a length, second was Poyle Vinnie who beat Erissimus Maximus to third by a neck. The rest of the field was a minimum 1 1/2 lengths back.

The penultimate race the 4:20 Tilly Devine and Simply Clever led swiftly, tracked by Avocet, Travis Bickle and Clayton Hall and the rest of the field was in the rear never really having an impact on the race. The placing was not altered much until the 3 furlong marker when Avocet had made easy headway soon to join Tilly Devine and Simply Clever although at this stage Travis Bickle was being pushed along. This joint lead was dismantled at 2 furlongs out as Avocet went clear and led (this stayed the same for the rest of the race) despite the horrendous meandering first to the left at one furlong marker and then to the right in the last, this did not affect his race and he went on to win. Simply Clever who was ridden out at two furlongs to go, this was the same for Leonard Thomas, eventually the rest of the field just gave up. The first place went to Avocet (a favourite) by six lengths to second place Tilly Devine who was eight lengths ahead of third, Simply Clever.