19 January 2023 , 16:44
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PITTSBURG can steal a march on his rivals for the Huge Daily Boosts Only At Bet UK Handicap (Div I) (1.50) at Southwell on Friday.
A winning hurdler for Ryan Potter, the seven-year-old didn’t have his first start on the Flat until October 2022, finishing well held in a Windsor maiden and two novice events at Kempton.
But Pittsburg showed improvement when sent into handicap company here three days before Christmas – having been backed from 16-1 to 11-2, the son of Sageburg came home with gusto to take a half-length second to Mac Alley.
Finley Marsh’s mount must prove his staying power as he goes up an additional three furlongs here.
Southwell hosts an all-weather meeting on Friday when Newsboy’s nap, Pittsburg, runs in the 1.50 Photo credit: Simon Cooper/PA Wire But Pittsburg’s victory over obstacles came over two and a half miles at Catterick Bridge last winter, so this sterner test of stamina should help his bid to go one better.
Southwell’s concluding Spreadex Sports Best Premier League Odds Handicap (4.23) is a good opportunity for WRATH OF HECTOR to rack up a fourth victory at the Rolleston track.
The top weight went under by a neck to Kodebreaker over this course and distance two weeks ago and a 1lb nudge up the weights should not prevent another good account.
FRIDAY'S SELECTIONS
SOUTHWELL
12.50 GOLDEN PROSPERITY
1.20 BOBBA TEE
1.50 PITTSBURG (NAP)
2.20 VILLALOBOS
2.50 GOLDEN SPEECH
3.20 PESSOA
3.50 MOLLY MISCHIEF
4.23 WRATH OF HECTOR (NB)
NEWCASTLE
3.45 FIRST SNOWFALL
4.15 KING CARNEY
4.45 CHAMPAGNY
5.15 BROWNLEE
5.45 MODULAR MAGIC
6.15 MAN OF EDEN
6.45 HIGHJACKED
DOUBLE: PITTSBURG and WRATH OF HECTOR