BHA Handicapper Neil Young provides his own 'awards' of the week based on the all weather racing which has survived the snow:
QUALITY TURN: Wicked Daze, winner of a 1m4f claimer at Kempton with a rating of 85. He didn't need to reproduce that figure to oblige - I assess his performance around the 76 mark - and this, his first win since July 2008, may well prove a decent little confidence-booster.
OLD STAGER: Black Falcon, who obliged in the 1m3f seller at Southwell on Sunday (10th January), nine days after his official tenth birthday, breaking a losing run of 21. His "present" from the handicapper is an 8lb rise from 47 to 55 - that's still a pound less than his BHA rating a year ago this week.
FASTEST RISER: Russian Music, who bolted up by six lengths in the 2m handicap at Southwell to complete a quickfire hat-trick. He ran off 60 that day, including a 6lb penalty, but his actual BHA rating at the time was "only" 58. His rise is therefore into double figures: 10lb, taking him to 68.
TIGHTEST FINISH: The 'Sponsor A Race By Calling 01902 390000' Handicap over 1m4f at Wolverhampton, in which the eight-year-old Fantasy Ride held off a late challenge from seven-year-old Crimson Flame to prevail by a short head. The winner goes up 4lb from 51 to 55, the second 3lb from 48 to 51.
TRICKIEST PUZZLE: The 'Bet In Running - Betdaq' Maiden Stakes over 1m3f at Southwell, in which the 62-rated Ask The Oracle beat twice-raced Dubai Creek by three quarters of a length, with the 65-rated Laureldeans Best, in receipt of a 5lb sex allowance from the front two, a length back. I went through three different sets of figures before settling on a 5lb rise to 67 for the winner - and each one of them might yet turn out to be correct.
CHEEKIEST TRAINER: David Pipe, who e-mailed me asking if I might consider dropping his charge Estate 7lb from 67 to 60 following his defeat in the 1m5f194y handicap at Wolverhampton. Admittedly, the horse hasn't won since 2007, but as he finished only a smidgin over two lengths behind the winner on Thursday - off that mark of 67 - the most I can really offer Estate is a pound's reduction. Still, as we say here in the north-east, "shy bairns get no jam on their bread."
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