Clive Robinson
It is the holiday season and as far as one can remember trainer Garth Puller is usually seen doing winning interviews while many are on holiday or still waking following a night of festivities.
But he does have some interesting runners at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Monday that could reward at decent odds.
Corsican could fly in under the radar as Race 3, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, does look competitive. Querari gelding Super Fast came in for support in his second start and did turn in an eye-catching run but he had traffic issues there and Scottsville could be even tougher experience. Space Cowboy, Hunters Arrow, Barbatti and Power Star, while knocking at the door, have all at one point run ordinary races and appear beatable.
More importantly Corsican was second to Paris Pike last time, a horse who recently asserted his authority over a fair field, and had Corsican not hung inwards he would have finished closer.
Another who appears better than her form is Salient Point who takes her place in Race 4, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1750m.
Puller may have got the timing wrong with her, running her over 2000m in her third start, after she had stayed on well over 1700m on the Polytrack. He had reason to be excited as the winner of that 1700m race, Sing For Winter, much like Paris Pike had trotted up when back at her favourite track.
Salient Point has had issues in her races and a wide draw may just suit as she will be out of any scrimmaging and could mow them down given a chance.
Puller-trained Queue Wing was given a 1kg penalty for his penultimate win over 1800m and then 2kg for his last success over 2000m before failing to overcome a slow start when dropping to 1600m in his last outing. The reason he has not been given large penalties is that he does not win by large margins.
But the way he wins suggests he has a lot more in the tank.
As such, returning to 1950m in Race 5, a MR 80 Handicap, he could be hard to beat.
