*All prices in copy are correct at time of publication but subject to change and they’re always bang on with our clever betting banners.
13:10 Alexej
John Gosden doesn’t have many runners at Southwell, but he does incredibly well with the runners he sends to the Nottinghamshire track, and ALEXEJ is the one to focus on here. He cost 200,000 guineas as a yearling, and looked a smart prospect when making a winning debut at Leicester in October, but has since proven expensive to follow on the all-weather.
His form has a solid look to it, though, and he looked as good as ever when third at Chelmsford last time on handicap debut. Alexej comes up against some solid Southwell performers, but he is drawn wide so should avoid any kick back, and is up to winning races from this mark.
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13:40 Whittle Le Woods
WHITTLE LE WOODS showed promise amidst greenness on debut at Newcastle last month and built on that experience in no uncertain terms when landing some nice bets over the same course and distance 11 days later. He had clearly learnt plenty and had to really knuckle down in the final furlong to repel the odds-on favourite who would not give up. That form couldn’t be working out better, either, with the third, fourth, sixth and seventh all winning next time out. Whittle le Woods has to prove himself on fibresand now, but he is open to further improvement and should be up to following up under a penalty.
14:15 Daafr
It’s hard to look past DAAFR, who made it two from two on this surface in good style a couple of days ago and is just as good over this longer trip. The switch to fibresand and fitting of a visor seems to have liberated him, recording an excellent timefigure when successful here on Tuesday, and a double penalty shouldn’t be enough to prevent a hat-trick.
14:45 Fablis
Only four runners set to go to post for this useful handicap and FABLIS, who is a scopey son of Frankel, looks the one to be with. He won two of his four starts as a juvenile last season, and wasn’t disgraced when last seen contesting the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket over a mile and a quarter.
Fablis has been ridden to the fore on his last three starts and, with no obvious pace on paper in the race, he could prove very hard to peg back if getting in a good rhythm on the front end at a track when it can be hard to come from off the pace. Mirage Mac is very much bred for this surface and bolted up on her sole try here, so looks an obvious danger.
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15:20 Bay Of Naples
BAY OF NAPLES produced an impressive display when landing his second course and distance victory last week, so is hard to oppose turned out quickly under a 5 lb penalty. He was strong in the market that day returned to fibresand and with the cheekpieces back on, and never gave his backers anything to worry about, drawing quickly early in the straight. Bay of Naples is building a good record at this track and can win again.
15:55 Ornate
A case can be made for a few but ORNATE showed plenty of verve when finding only the thriving Venturous too good at Newcastle last time so is fancied to capitalise on a falling mark and add to his two previous course and distance victories. Tawny Port finished one place behind him that day and is also a dual course and distance scorer, so is feared most with Thegreatestshowman appealing as the pick of the remainder.
16:25 Marwari
A tight-knit sprint, but MARWARI still remains unexposed as a sprinter, so is fancied to build on his excellent second to Qaaraat here last time and reverse placings with Antony Brittain’s in-form gelding. Rayyan is another who is weighted to have a say if the fitting of blinkers has the desired effect.
Timeform’s tips at Southwell on Thursday
13:10 Alexej
13:40 Whittle Le Woods
14:15 Daafr
14:45 Fablis
15:20 Bay Of Naples
15:55 Ornate
16:25 Marwari
*All prices in copy are correct at time of publication but subject to change and they’re always bang on with our clever betting banners.
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