Stand Guard bids to make history at Southwell

The John Butler-trained gelding goes for the Coral Selling Stakes in a bid to land his 25th all-weather Flat win which will equal the record-holder China Castle.

Now a ten-year-old, Stand Guard competes at a lowly level, but is a prolific scorer. That said, he was beaten at long odds-on at Lingfield last time in a race which turned out to be a tactical affair.

Compensation awaits Stand Guard this afternoon as he goes for an historic victory.

Chris Dwyer has enjoyed an excellent winter with his small team and the Newmarket trainer can strike again with Tatting in the Ladbrokes Handicap.

The gelding received a peach of a ride from Liam Keniry to win here recently and the same jockey is in the saddle again as Tatting aims to follow up. This is a tougher task, but he is fancied to have the edge.

Electric Qatar is a horse on a roll at present and the Alan McCabe-trained sprinter goes for a hat-trick in the Compare Bookmakers Handicap over the minimum trip.

The five-year-old will have 3lb claimer Ross Atkinson in the saddle as he takes on Iffranesia, another horse going for hat-trick honours, and Sir Geoffrey, who goes well on this track.

Also worth noting are On The Cusp (3.10), who looks to be coming to peak form, and Izzy Boy (5.10), who should have benefited from his first outing of the year.

At Newcastle, North Yorkshire trainer Ruth Carr switches the in-form Light The City back to jumping in an effort to resume winning ways.

The versatile gelding was twice a winner over hurdles at Sedgefield before transferring to the Flat, where he won at Southwell before two solid placed efforts on the all-weather, the latest of those just over a fortnight ago.

Light The City lines up for the Close Brothers Business Finance Handicap Hurdle and, with his fitness assured, he should give Jake Greenall a good ride.

Norton trainer Tim FitzGerald looks to have found a perfect opportunity for Mr Syntax in the CBBF HP, Leasing And Refinancing Handicap Chase.

A respectable third to Mart Lane at Doncaster on his latest start, My Syntax will not get many better chances to win than he has this afternoon and he is awarded the nap vote. Brian Hughes rides.

Stuart Coltherd has had a cracking winter and the Selkirk trainer is selected to pilot Shan Valley in the Close Brothers Business Finance Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

The eight-year-old is overdue a winning turn after second places at Musselburgh and Wetherby.

RACING selections

Southwell today
2.10 Carlanda, 2.40 Stand Guard, 3.10 On The Cusp, 3.40 Tatting, 4.10 Very First Blade, 4.40 Electric Qatar, 5.10 Izzy Boy.

Newcastle today
2.20 Stonebrook, 2.50 Mr Syntax (NAP), 3.20 Shan Valley, 3.50 Light The City, 4.20 Frankie’s Promise, 4.50 Clondaw Flicka, 5.20 Wicked Spice.

Today’s other meeting: Exeter.

Tomorrow’s meetings: Catterick, Fontwell, Kempton and Lingfield.