Horse Racing Tips: 13th December 2016 – Southwell & Catterick

12:30 Southwell – Clubland @ 7/2

The second race at Southwell sees Clubland head the early market and it’s very easy to see why. Gary Moss’ seven-year-old is a five-time winner around this course and comes into this contest 12lbs lower than when winning over C&D back in February.

Southwell’s exacting fibresand doesn’t suit all runners, in fact it often finds horses out; however, here we’re talking about a horse who seemingly relishes the underfoot conditions – one who has performed with more than just credit around here on several occasions.

The three-time C&D winner hasn’t exactly been in great form of late, but nor has he massively disappointed and this is definitely his sort of race. In fact, it’s very hard to see him not going well.

The gelding’s Class 5 record over 6f at Southwell reads: 11, while his overall Class 5 course record (varying distances) stands at: 1476141. It’s also worth noting that he got home in front on the only other two occasions that saw him run here from a handicap rating that’s lower than 70 (today’s rating 68). On top of this, the seven-year-old has also won around here at Class 4 level.

All things considered, this is a massive opportunity for Clubland to gain his 14th career win and it would be very disappointing if he’s not right there at the business end of the race.

14:20 Catterick – Brian Boranha @ 7/2

The 14:20 at Catterick looks as though it should be a battle between the two horses who head the early market. Onwiththeparty and Brian Boranha both finished 2nd last time out, each shaping as though their time in the winners enclosure might not be far away.

Of the two, the one who makes more appeal (much more at that) is the Peter Niven trained Brian Boranha.

In his short career, this lightly raced gelding has only had seven runs over timber and comes into this race as one of the more unexposed types. Having run a couple of OK races in novice events last term, the five-year-old has performed with credit on more than one occasions since reappearing in October and, having been upped to three miles, he put in his best performance yet last time out.

In a stronger event at Wetherby, Brian Boranha, having traveled well before keeping gamely, ran an excellent race in 2nd, suggesting that the step-up in trip suited nicely.

In terms of the opposition, this certainly isn’t a race that will take much winning and therefore looks a very good opportunity for Brian Boranha to go one better than he did at Wetherby last time out. In truth, it would be surprising if he failed to go in a contest of this nature, and, at odds of 7/2, the mount of Brian Hughes is well worth supporting.

See more tips here.