6:20 – Southwell – RICHARD GIBSON HANDICAP (CLASS 4) (3yo+ 0-80) Standard 1m6f
Veloso runs back at Southwell again this evening after doing a demolition job on his last outing at the track by beating his rivals by 12 lengths. The handicapper took a dim view of his winning run and has put him up by 9lbs, but he is still 12lbs lower than his highest winning mark of 81 he achieved when winning at Southwell in 2010 so still has scope to win again off his current mark.
The 10 year old grey gelding has a very decent strike rate achieving 8 wins from his 24 starts overall, but looking at his all weather record in isolation his 7 wins from 12 runs is a very good strike rate of 58%. He has won on the polytrack surfaces at Great Leighs and Wolverhampton but his best all weather performance is on the fibresand at Southwell where he has won 4 times from 7 runs with another two placed efforts at the track.
Veloso runs over 1 mile 6 furlongs this evening and has won twice from three starts over the trip at the course. Gary Bartley rides Veloso today and has ridden him once previously, which was at Southwell over course and distance when he finished 3rd. Gary claims 3lbs and has a reasonable strike rate at Southwell with 4 wins from 21 rides. He also rode a winner at Newcastle on Friday.
The race this evening is a competitive affair but Veloso keeps his best performances for the track and with his riders claim is still 15lbs lower than his best winning mark at the course. He has a decent record of following up a win with another decent performance and if he can put in a similar performance to his last run he should be in with a good chance this evening.
