Eight races are slated to take place on the all-weather card at Southwell on Thursday. Every race will be sponsored on the day by BetUK & BetMGM.
GG writer Joe Napier provides his best bets in every race, as we look through the card at the meeting.
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5:00pm – BetUK. Home Of The Acca-Fenwa Classified Stakes
As is often the case in classified races of this nature, any winning pedigree is a plus. Experience can prove key here, as KING ATHELSTAN has regularly run well in races of this type, including a victory over course and distance last March. He was well beaten on his return, but has often stripped fitter for his comeback in the past, so might be worth chancing at what is likely to be a decent price.
Mucuna has won four times over hurdles since she last ran on the flat, so could well find this a gentle reintroduction, while Velvet Vulcan has steadily dropped in class and may also find this more to his liking.
5:30pm – BetUK. Its Where The UK Bets Restricted Novice Stakes (Horses In Bands C And D)
This race has only been held once, but last year’s renewal saw the three three-year-olds fill the places, and the four older horses miss out. As such, while Siempre Arturo won really well at Chelmsford, he is also running under a penalty, as well as bearing a significant weight-for-age concession to ALRAZEEN.
Gay Kelleway’s son of Galileo Gold belied odds of 100/1 to finish fourth in what looked a strong maiden at Kempton just before Christmas. The first three home hailed from the yards of Haggas, Appleby and Gosden, so Alrazeen came through his baptism of fire admirably, having run green, so surely boasts outstanding chances of getting off the mark here.
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The last time out winners may prove the ones to focus on. Daafy won well over course and distance two weeks ago, but he incurs a 3lb penalty, whereas BOBBY JOE LEG is able to race off the same mark of 57 that he won off at Newcastle nine days ago.
The north east course is the one he calls home, but in the veteran’s last ten starts at Southwell, all of which have come over this trip of 7f, he has made the frame six times, including a win in January 2022. He may well still be capable of following up.
6:30 – Build Your Acca With BetUK Handicap
With Qaasid often the bridesmaid in recent starts, the most likely winner is probably CAVERN CLUB for Marco Botti. This 1m3f trip may be just short of his best, but one of his two wins came at this distance at Kempton as a juvenile.
That Kempton success was one of just two all weather starts, the other coming at Wolverhampton’s tapeta track when third in a novice event. That shows he copes with Southwell’s specific surface, so while he comes into this fresh, he has the profile of a horse who may well do better away from turf.
7:00 – Boost Your Acca-Fenwa With BetUK Handicap
He’s An Angel could well defy his 5lb penalty for victory at Wolverhampton earlier this month, as he has shaped far better for his new yard. However, both HIGHER LAW and Miss Calculation have been going close recently, and there is little to split them in opposing the likely favourite.
The selection gets the vote as he avoids what would be a 1lb rise here, while the second-named is due to drop 1lb for their recent meeting. Off level weights, Kevin Frost’s four-year-old should go close, as he was beaten less than a length off this mark in November and should remain closer to the pace from his draw in stall five.
7:30 – Boost Your Acca-Fenwa With BetUK Handicap
Granted he navigates the start with no issues, CATESBY may take some pegging back from the front. He met significant trouble in running when fourth at Wolverhampton at the end of 2023, but drops another 1lb in the weights. That ensures he is just 1lb higher than when making all over course and distance in October. Elisha Whittington’s mount is drawn plumb in stall one, while his jockey has ridden two winners from her first 12 rides this calendar year and takes off a further 3lb.
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Kats Bob is likely to be favourite given his recent victory, for which he avoids a penalty, and Archie Young can now claim 7lb racing against the pros. However, that could provide some value about PHOENIX BEACH. Richard Fahey’s five-year-old was just a neck behind that rival over course and distance in December despite having much the worst of the draw.
They meet on the same terms, ignoring Young’s claim, and Phoenix Beach has also won over track and trip in the past. His draw is not perfect again, but neither is it for Kats Bob and they have too much going for them compared to the field.
8:30 – BetMGM: It’s Showtime Handicap
Over half of William Haggas’ runners on Southwell’s all weather have finished in the first three in the last five years, including two who placed at each-way prices last week. As such, it might be worth forgiving KEEN INTEREST a sloppy handicap debut three weeks ago.
He is a half-brother to Group 2 winning sprinter Azure Blue, who also took a few starts to properly find her feet. While it seems to be taking Keen Interest a little longer, his mark of 65 is definitely more reasonable based on his novice and maiden form, and this might not take loads of winning.
Southwell Through-The-Card Tips
Alrazeen
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