Southwell Tips: Through The Card Selections For Friday 14th February, 2025

Eight races will take place at Southwell on Friday 14th February, 2025 and BetMGM dominate the sponsorship of the card. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers takes a look at the BetMGM-sponsored races and picks out his through-the-card selections for all the races here…

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1.00pm Southwell – BetMGM: It’s Showtime Apprentice Handicap

Richard Fahey’s Hartswood is a leading contender for the first race on the card at 1:00pm, but it’s James Owen’s OVERNIGHT OATS that can down that rival and claim victory. The hugely consistent five-year-old showed his class last season when notching up a four-timer and having won at Southwell early last month he then went on to finish second at Newcastle. A course-and-distance winner, Owen’s raider will enjoy the step back up to a mile here and off the same mark of 68 then he looks more than capable of carrying top weight to victory.

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1.30pm Southwell – Best Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM Handicap (Div 1)

Both Northbound and Hawajes were winners last time out, so will head into the 1.30pm contest in fine fettle, but the pair will have to deal with higher marks here. One that could well upset the pair here is SPARTAN FIGHTER, who was a decent third last time out and could be more than capable of improving on that here. A former course-and-distance winner who last tasted victory off a mark of 59 takes his chance off 55 here. It was that same mark he recorded that aforementioned C&D win back in February 2024, so it would be no surprise to see him go very close here and he looks the value play.

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2.00pm Southwell – Best Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM Handicap (Div 2)

Peter Niven’s MONSIEUR FANTAISIE was victorious on his last visit to Southwell and the seven-year-old is capable of tasting more success when lining up in the 2.00pm contest. A one-and-a-quarter length winner over course-and-distance that day, Niven’s raider failed to build on that win when second and eighth at Newcastle on his last two starts. However, a return to the track on Friday afternoon off only a 2lbs higher mark could see him get the better of the likes of Yaahobby and Vixey, who look the two main dangers.

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2.30pm Southwell – Boost Your Acca At BetMGM Fillies’ Novice Stakes

Charlie Appleby’s BLAZING SPIRIT was well fancied to kick off his career with a win at Yarmouth back in October, but the costly purchase could only finish fifth when too keen during the contest. Now, back for a second run, the daughter of Ghaiyyath will be looking to build on that effort and could be an interesting runner in the fillies’ novice stakes at 2.30pm. The hood is set to be applied for this event and Dougie Costello will be looking to settle her through the early stages of the contest, but she has to be given another chance in a race that looks devoid of significant strength in depth.

3.00pm Southwell – Win 1M With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Handicap

Ed Bethell’s YORKSHIRE ended 2024 in fine fashion bagging a couple of wins at Wolverhampton and the flourishing five-year-old will look to make it a hat-trick of wins when he lines up in a hugely competitive 3.00pm race. He defied a 6lbs rise when winning over 7f at Wolverhampton last time out and he’s been given a further 3lbs for that win back in November. Given a break since that brace of win he will need to improve again, but he shaped like he could still be open to significant improvement and he can get the better of Royal Zabeel, who is also looking for a third win in a row.

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