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The All-Weather Hall Of Fame

All-Weather Form Daily Form Guide Form Database Draw & Track Biases Sire Tables Form and Features Speed Ratings FAQ Ratings Overview How to Read Ratings Philosophy of Value Quick Ratings Help Books to Read Hall Of Fame Contact Sandform Member Feedback My Account Check Days Left Renew Membership ...................................... Web Services Race Radio RP Desktop Race Results Odds Comparison Betfair Sporting Index Racing Post Ownership Ownaracehorse.co.uk ...................................... Search Site	Piccled - a horse for a course ............................................................................................................................... Piccled only raced nine times on the All-Weather, but left a big impression. It was his record over the straight 5f at Southwell that makes him an obvious choice for entry into any All-Weather Hall Of Fame. By Piccolo, a horse with an impressive record on most of the surfaces, but particularly well suited to Fibresand he is out of the Green Desert mare Crème De Menthe who has yet to produce anything else of comparable quality. His AW debut came over 5f at Southwell on 14 December 2001 but hardly set him aside as a horse destined for further glory. Sent off at 20/1 he was beaten in a Class 6 Handicap by Cash off a mark of 57. It was though a step up on his recent turf form suggesting he was a slightly late developer, or simply preferred the sand. A month later he was seventh in an equally disappointing race over 6f at Wolverhampton and there was still little to be excited about. That all changed six days later when upped in grade and running from just out of the handicap he ran an absolutely cracking race from a slightly unfavoured draw to get within three quarters of a length of the very useful Peruvian Chief. In doing so he clocked a Sandform rating of 75 and it looked that off his current mark of 60 he would soon be winning. This was to be the last time he tasted defeat over the 5f at Southwell. The Sandform team noted after this run “lightly raced, plenty of scope” He only had to wait until the 19February 2002 for the first of visits to the winner’s enclosure at Southwell. Dropped in grade, even though racing off a 3lb higher mark, Eric Alston’s four year old won with plenty to spare by four lengths. He returned in May off a mark of 73 – a 10lb rise for his four length defeat of Palawan – but again proved too strong for his last race in Class 4 in this grade. It was probably not the strongest of races but Piccled won tidily under Willie Supple beating Dean Ivory’s useful sprinter Blue Velvet. His relatively low Sandform rating of 60 owes more to the vagaries of the 5f course at Southwell rather than any lack of ability on his part. It was the winter of 2002/2003 where he made the 5f sprints at Southwell his own. Upped in grade to a Class 3 race on 10 December, this looked a much stronger heat than his previous win but again the tidy nature of his win suggested there may yet be more to come. Finishing a length and half in front of the ultra-consistent Sundried Tomato, with several proven performers in behind this looked a very decent performance. He returned on new Years Day 2003, traditionally a highlight of the Southwell winter where the 5f sprint is usually of the highest quality to be found on the sand there all winter. Now racing off 85, Piccled again won with something in hand beating Zarzu by two lengths. Trainer Eric Alston said of him: "He seems to love it here, but there is only one more race for him here this winter, in three weeks' time." He duly returned three weeks later in another 0-100 Handicap and despite not enjoying the best of runs got the better of Port St Charles by three quarters of length. Winning this off a mark of 92 he had effectively run out of options on the AW. This was the corresponding race that the previous year he had been second to Peruvian Chief off a mark of 60. In the space of 5 races he had been raised 32lbs and was still winning comfortably. This highlights just how much Piccled had improved from the back end of his three year old campaign. His turf form had also improved significantly though he remained a higher rated horse on the sand. In seven races over 5f at Southwell he had won 5 and been second twice. He had picked up over £37,000 in prize money over this C/D alone. It is not simply his record that made him such a favourite at the course, but the manner of his victories. Rarely did his followers have a moment of anxiety. His last AW appearance came over 6f at Wolverhampton in March 2004. Though the surface (at that time) was Fibresand he simply did not enjoy going to Wolverhampton as much as Southwell and ran down the field off a mark of 96. Piccled continues to race on the turf, though currently his opportunities are strictly limited on the sand. It is hoped that his mark may be lowered by the time winter comes round and he may yet qualify for some of those competitive sprints that are held over 5f at Southwell during the winter. If he does, don’t rule him out because he is still only seven years old and would undoubtedly love a return to his favourite track. Submitted by The Sandform Team.