Thunder can roar to another Southwell success

Charging Thunder can enhance his fine record so far this spring with victory in the Bloomfields Horseboxes Handicap at Southwell on Sunday.

The seven-year-old joined James Owen in September last year after being bought for 20,000 guineas and has paid back a good chunk of that with two Flat wins and two hurdles victories in six starts for his new connections.

Charging Thunder was successful at the first attempt for Owen over 2800m before notching up back-to-back National Hunt verdicts in October and November, with easing ground on his third start in December going against him.

Rerouted to the all-weather subsequently, he hit the target over the same extended 3200m he faces here at the end of March before narrowly failing to defy a 5lb rise when moved back to turf at Newbury earlier this month.

Raised another 2lb for that head defeat at the hands of Moon Over Miami, Charging Thunder can fare better back on familiar ground here.

Valentine Catcher disappointed when sent off favourite on his Ripon return but should hopefully be a bit sharper in the Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Handicap.

Having won one of his two starts last year, Valentine Catcher was fancied to make a flying start to 2025 but after a tardy start, Tim Easterby's charge was up against it, even before finding a little bit of trouble in running.

The outing should have got his eye back in at least and he has shown ability on an all-weather track before.

Russian Crescendo can pick up where she left off last year in the British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies' Handicap.

As a Cracksman half-sister to a Group Three winner, her pedigree suggests a decent level of ability and so it proved in three runs last term after she failed to make it to the track at two.

While she was a distant fourth on her racecourse bow, she stepped up markedly following a break to win at Kempton and then Ascot in the autumn.

The form of the Kempton race is nothing special but there were a couple of subsequent winners in behind at Ascot and a starting mark of 84 does not pitch her in too high.

Victoria Harbour can make it second time lucky in the Vertu Mazda York Fillies' Novice Stakes at Wetherby.

Beaten seven lengths on her first racecourse start at Wolverhampton last month, Karl Burke's charge looked thoroughly in need of the experience and was just found out a little in the closing stages.

Stepped up to 2000m from just over 1600m, the increased trip should prove no issue for this daughter of Frankel, who counts a couple of classy middle-distance performers among her relatives. - Press Association

SELECTIONS

SOUTHWELL: Race 1 - 16.15 Giorgio M, Race 2 - 16.45 Alligator Alley, Race 3 - 17.15 Russian Crescendo, Race 4 - 17.45 Waardah, Race 5 - 18.15 Venezuelan, Race 6 - 18.45 Mr Cool, Race 7 - 19.15 Valentine Catcher, Race 8 - 19.45 CHARGING THUNDER (NAP).

WETHERBY: Race 1 - 15.00 Victoria Harbour, Race 2 - 15.30 Coma Cluster, Race 3 - 16.00 Hymnbook, Race 4 - 16.30 Power Of Gold, Race 5 - 17.00 Never Let Go, Race 6 - 17.30 Yazaman, Race 7 - 18.00 Zappata, Race 8 - 18.30 Miss Willows.