17:00 Southwell

Leg 1 Selections: Kim Wexler, Gannon Glory 

KIM WEXLER is a mare at the top of her game of late, in which she has won and finished 2nd twice in her last three starts. She has been beaten under a length in her last two starts and has only been nudged up 2Ib for this race, so this mark isn’t beyond her and is David Loughnane’s only runner on the card. She has solid place possibilities at the very least in leg 1.

GANNON GLORY only managed 8th at this course last time but that was his first start on the surface and a reproduction of his turf form would give him a great chance here. He makes his stable debut for Richard Fahey and the combination of the drop in class and pound lower mark is beneficial. He could be a lethal force with a lot more to offer. 

17:30 Southwell

Leg 2 Selections: The Tron, Munificent, Mehmo

A wide-open handicap for leg 3 but THE TRON has a lot of decent form at this course and that will stand him in good stead. This 5-year-old blew his chance with a slow start last time but finished his race to good effect and he has only been out of the frame twice in 8 starts at this venue. He remains 7Ib above his last winning mark but should be thereabouts. 

MUNIFICENT probably has room for manoeuvre off this mark and won with more in hand than the margin indicated last time. He has been in very good form for a while now and should be able to get a nice position from stall 11. He is feared most, while MEHMO won over track and trip on his penultimate start and is better than what he showed last time. He should go well too.

18:00 Southwell

Leg 3 Selections: Ladywantaway, Furnicoe

LADYWANTAWAY gained her breakthrough success when powering to victory at Newcastle last time and surely a repeat performance in this race would see her go close to following up despite dropping down in distance. She seemed well-suited to the pace that day and, with the likelihood she’ll get another good one to aim at here, she should make the frame at the very least in leg 3 given a few of these ran poorly last time. 

FURNICOE practically set it up for the former last time but this shorter trip gives hope that she might last a bit longer or even so, might adopt hold-up tactics to last time which nearly turned into success when a fast-finishing 2nd at this course. Mick Appleby’s filly has now finished 2nd three times off this mark or higher, so she warrants respect again here in leg 3 with more to come. 

18:30 Southwell

Leg 4 Selections: Brasca, Nolton Cross 

The Ralph Beckett-trained BRASCA has won and placed several times off higher marks than this and he hasn’t been disgraced in his last three starts on the all-weather. He is 6Ib below his last winning mark and will find the return to this trip more his bag as well. If he can run to his best, he could easily make the frame in leg 4. 

NOLTON CROSS was slightly below form when 4th at Wolverhampton last-time-out but is better than that and is only 1Ib higher than when going close at Wolverhampton on his penultimate start. He was highly tried mid-last year and is drawn well to get a decent early position here in stall 4. He should be thereabouts in what is a wide-open handicap. 

19:00 Southwell

Leg 5 Selections: Berkshire Breeze 

This should prove to be an easy task for BERKSHIRE BREEZE, who brings some strong form to the table, courtesy of his placed efforts behind some class horses including Secret State and Natural World and wouldn’t need to be at his best to go close to winning this easier race. 

He has yet to win but this is a significant drop in grade from last time plus he went close on his only previous try at this level when a neck 2nd to Knightwood. Unless Karl Burke’s newcomer is above average, he should have too much class for these. He can gain a much-deserved success. 

19:30 Southwell

Leg 6 Selections: Walking On Clouds, Buraback

WALKING ON CLOUDS has been in superb form for Grant Tuer of late, in which he’s won his last two starts, and has a good chance in his hat-trick bid. He has been raised 7Ib for that latest success, which ultimately puts him up to a career-high mark but he could take another step up the ladder given his progression and has a good draw in stall 1 as well. He is the one to beat in the opener. 

I wouldn’t rule out a bold effort from BURABANK though, who is back on his last winning mark and has the assistance of Tom Marquand. He is generally consistent and has been nearest the finish in his last three starts. If the pace is strong, and he can get a good start, there is no reason why he can’t feature in the outcome here.