Nine races are set to take place on Thursday at Southwell, with BetMGM and BetUK sponsoring all of the action. With some intriguing novice races hosting some potential stars of the future, Joe Napier picks his selections across the card.
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4.25 Southwell – BetUK. Home Of The Acca Handicap
A few last time out winners in here can be taken on with the consistent DARLO PRIDE, who retains more potential than few of the older runners still aged just four. He has not been a prolific winner, though has a success over this distance at Wolves in 2024 already and was unlucky in running on more than one occasion at this track and trip earlier this month. He was second behind a probable handicap blot most recently and it looks unlikely there’s one of those up against him in this race.
5.00 Southwell – BetUK. It’s Where The UK Bets Handicap
There is more to come from TRADESMAN before he hits his ceiling and David Simcock’s charge can take this useful staying handicap. His five-year-old was second to The Craftymaster over 2m at this venue on his latest outing, with that horse having won seven of his last eight races and gone up another 12lb in the handicap since. A 2lb rise for that effort is fair and can be overcome at the expense of the similarly stamina-proven Artisan Dancer.
5.30 Southwell – Best Racing Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM Novice Stakes
There is a fair amount of guesswork required in this novice stakes, as neither of the two runners who have raced previously look likely to upset the well-bred debutants. Chief among that category is Cadogan Place as a full brother to Group 1 winner Quadrilateral, though his sibling was at his best at two and did not kick on at this stage, while Andrew Balding has reached for a tongue tie already.
Hidden Law’s full siblings were both well-beaten first time out so while John and Thady Gosden have also tongue tied GREBASTARKY first time out, he may be the answer. The yard have had two winners in similar races recently and their son of Almanzor should have few issues seeing out this trip.
6.00 Southwell – Boost Your Acca At BetMGM Novice Stakes
Though Vibrato is entitled to finish much closer to SUSPICION four weeks on from their meeting at the end of February, Ollie Sangster’s charge may have enough in hand to win again. He was third in a strong maiden at Kempton and the novice event which he won with Vibrato in fourth looks another race to hold decent form. He now has a 6lb penalty to contend with, but has more to offer.
6.30 Southwell – Stay Golden With BetMGM Safer Gambling Handicap (Div I)
While Beau Gars is an interesting handicap debutant, the form horse LOUGH LEANE is difficult to oppose after four successive victories. He was arguably at his most impressive most recently, winning by just shy of five lengths nine days ago at Wolverhampton and his 6lb penalty ensures he is 4lb well-in. The winning thread does not look set to end here.
7.00 Southwell – Stay Golden With BetMGM Safer Gambling Handicap (Div II)
This should be fairly competitive, with both Retraction and Landlorstothestars putting in promising efforts last time out. However, preference is for GREAT BLASKET, who on his debut for his current yard back in December and is now down to the same mark having made the frame in four of his five starts since. The handicapper has been very lenient with him and dropping back to this 1m trip should be a positive for him to go close once again.
7.30 Southwell – BetMGM: It’s Showtime Handicap
While there is plenty of solid handicapping form from those towards the bottom of the ratings in this field, there is a good chance to the top two in the handicap may well make a higher grade than this. It is more difficult to forgive Super Hit his underwhelming handicap debut last time out than it is to back YAAJOOZ to fulfil the promise of his previous effort in which he met trouble in running at a very crucial time. That runner-up came just five days ago, so he should be roaring fit for this and he was well clear of the third by the line. He can make amends before having his sights set higher.
8.00 Southwell – Always Gamble Responsibly With BetUK Handicap (Div I)
Now that he has had a couple of runs for this stable, more can be expected of HIGH VELOCITY. A winner at this venue off a mark of 82 in August 2022, he was notably competitive in a pair of class 3 handicaps towards the end of that calendar year. He was returning from 393 days off when making his first start for David Loughnane at Kempton in February, but stepped forward from finishing last of 11 there to be a close enough fifth of nine next time out at Newcastle.
He has won over 6f in the past and is worth another go at this trip now that he is a five-year-old. It is likely he will be available at decent odds to run a big race each-way.
8.30 Southwell – Always Gamble Responsibly With BetUK Handicap (Div II)
Freddie Larson’s claim has been utilised to good effect for two of the three wins TYKE has recorded in his career. He returns to the saddle aboard this horse for the first time since winning over course and distance in September and he looks primed to win once again. An experimental run over 5f did not work out last time, but a return to this trip off a mark just 1lb higher than his last victory (also C&D) in December suggests the time is now to back him.
Southwell Through-The-Card Tips
Joe Napier’s tips for Thursday 28th February 2024.
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