It is worth taking a chance on Indian Blaze in the Tote Credit Club Stakes at Southwell today. The David Elsworth-trained gelding is potentially very well treated at the weights for this `Showcase' handicap.
His all-weather rating is largely based on the form he showed last winter when he appeared just a modest handicapper. But the late-maturing five-year-old has blossomed this summer, winning four times on turf including in a good race at Newmarket. So the gelding is very well treated today - 11lb lower than he was rated at Newmarket.
Indian Blaze ran an encouraging third at Wolverhampton on his return to the all-weather early this month. He will be better suited by Southwell, when he will also be 2lb better off with Wolverhampton winner Almazhar - who beat him by less than a length. He can take full advantage.
Souhaite will benefit considerably from a return to racing at a mile and a half in division one of the December Handicap.
He was sent off hot favourite for a two-mile race at Wolverhampton last week and looked set to trot up half a mile out, only to weaken dramatically in the latter stages and finish a well-beaten seventh.
The three-year-old had shown progressively useful form previously and trainer Willie Muir has found him an ideal opportunity to resume winning ways today.
The Heathfield Novices' Chase could be a race to savour if the jumps meeting at Folkestone survives a 7.30 inspection. High-class staying hurdler Silver Wedge makes his debut over fences, fresh from a poor run over the smaller obstacles last month. Bracey Run, Dealers Choice and Holborn Hill are also each potentially better chasers than are usually seen at the Kent track, though each fell last time out and has something to learn about jumping fences.
Warm Spell, however, could beat them all. He was a smart hurdler, successful in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton for Gary Moore in 1996. He shaped very well when runner-up on his chasing debut at Lingfield 10 days ago, short-headed in a handicap by the race-fit and vastly more experienced Celtic Season. Warm Spell is sure to have come on for that first run of the season.
