Southwell Racing Tip: Spirit Of Coniston

Away from Cheltenham and the best bet of the day can be found in the 3.45 at Southwell. Fourteen runners are declared to line up in a low grade sprint handicap and there isn’t much between them.

In recent weeks as the weather has warmed up and the frosts abated, the Southwell five furlong draw bias seems to have gone back to normal. That is to say those drawn near the high rail are at a disadvantage.

Spirit of Coniston was one of those disadvantaged on the 8th February. Drawn one off the rail in stall 8, he managed to beat all the horses drawn around him. He eventually finished sixth, behind some higher rated horses.

Trainer Paul Midgley appears to have a pattern for the horse, as this is the third time in a row he comes to Southwell in March for a sprint handicap.

Last year Spirit of Coniston was rated 65 and therefore ended up in the much more competitive 0-75 handicap. Drawn high and badly hampered in his race he finished a creditable fourth.

In 2009 he raced in today’s equivalent race finishing third, again from a wretched draw in stall 12.

For the first time in three years he has a better draw near the centre of the track in stall 9 of 14. His lowly rating means he gets into this 0-60 handicap. He has managed to win 10/61 runs in this grade; he wins in his turn and this might be it.