James Flaherty

Published 9.08 - all selections online

JENNI (4.15 Doncaster) is quite unpredictable, and could easily finish down the field, but I don’t think she deserves to be the price she is in this seven-furlong handicap, live on Sky Sports Racing.

She had finished nearer last than first in eight consecutive starts prior to her latest effort, but there were certainly signs of encouragement last time. Jenni was slowly away, which is worryingly becoming a bit of a habit, but made eye-catching late headway widest of all to finish fourth.

While no match for the winner, he won his next two starts, and she was only three-quarters of a length off second. She was actually the quickest in the field for each of the final three furlongs and if she hadn’t given away ground at the start, she would have gone very close.

I though the handicapper was lenient in dropping her another 2lbs for that and she is now 10lbs below her last winning mark. Ironically, she made all on that occasion at Musselburgh last May, for what was a relatively easy success.

The selection is clearly well handicapped on her best form and with the step back in the right direction last time, this seems to be the time to take a chance on her. A small win-only play is advised.

At Southwell later, also live on Sky Sports Racing, I’m also hoping LEDNIKOV (7.46 Southwell) can return to form after some disappointing efforts on turf.

He is certainly better on the all-weather and particularly here at Southwell, where he has won five times and got another race in the steward’s room, from 19 runs.

That compares favourably to just one win from 33 runs away from this venue and he returns off a mark of 51, 7lbs lower than when fifth on his latest run here back in April. We don’t have to go too far back to find his last win here though, as he dominated a handicap the previous month off this mark, winning by seven and a half lengths.

That was over 1m 6f, but he has won twice (and got another) over this distance here too. All bar one of his defeats over course and distance have come off higher marks than this and with his two wins coming off 47 and 50 (60 in the race he was given by the stewards) being relatively easy ones, this mark certainly looks appealing.