UK Horse Racing Tips: Southwell

Opticality beat Defence Treaty (third) by just under two lengths over 1m3f here earlier in the month and a 4lb pull is unlikely to be enough for that form to be overturned. However, they could both be up against it with MOLLY MISCHIEF, who returned from a 286-day break to make a highly encouraging start to life with Jennie Candlish, filling the runner-up berth over 1m6f here. The daughter of Muhaarar goes off only 1lb higher and looks the one to be with. Philos completes the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Molly Mischief 2nd Opticality 3rd Philos

The Dragon King, a 21,000gns yearling, goes for the Clive Cox yard and has to be respected on his debut. However, he could lack the potential speed of SEX ON FIRE, who is bred to be fast as a son of Dark Angel, out of a 5f Listed winner, and goes for the red-hot Richard Spencer stable. Any market confidence behind him would increase interest, while Off The Bench changed hands for 45,000gns back in September and he also warrants a market check.
Prediction : 1st Sex On Fire 2nd The Dragon King 3rd Off The Bench

So Obsessed showed huge improvement on only her second handicap start to score by four lengths at Chelmsford and she holds an obvious chance off a 5lb higher rating. However, a chance can be taken on CLOUD KING, who hasn't lived up to his expensive price tag in three starts so far, but has now been gelded. Considering the big prices he was sent off for two of those appearances, it's possible he has been brought along slowly and a mark of 61 could be lenient judged on his pedigree. Mariamne is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Cloud King 2nd So Obsessed 3rd Mariamne

Kindest Nation was far from disgraced when fifth on her debut at Newcastle and she will have learned a great deal from that experience, so it would be no surprise to see her go close with Oisin Murphy booked. However, the vote goes to GOD BLESS AMERICA, who shaped with huge promise on his first start when filling the runner-up spot over a mile here last month. Eve Johnson Houghton's three-year-old could have plenty more to offer and looks the one to beat. Any market support for Raagi should be noted.
Prediction : 1st God Bless America 2nd Kindest Nation 3rd Raagi

Despite showing plenty of inexperience on her debut, ASINARA was still only denied by a short head at Kempton earlier in the month. Charlie Hills' filly should have any amount of improvement to come and can get off the mark at the second time of asking. Duke Wellington has finished third on both starts to date, including over track and trip last time, and he shouldn't be too far away. Mickley is another to consider on his return.
Prediction : 1st Asinara 2nd Duke Wellington 3rd Mickley

Chola Empire produced a pair of runner-up efforts at Chelmsford last month, including in this grade last time, and he is likely to be thereabouts off an unchanged mark. However, he could come out second best to DAWN OF LIBERATION, who made a pleasing start for the Ruth Carr yard when third at Newcastle. The five-year-old was returning from a 159-day break that day and now takes a drop in grade off 1lb lower. Mobashr is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Dawn Of Liberation 2nd Chola Empire 3rd Mobashr

BINT HAVANA GOLD is progressing well and with her yard firing on all cylinders on the all-weather lately, Richard Hughes' filly heads the shortlist. She has thrived, with two wins from three starts, since reverting to sprinting and going handicapping, and off just 3lb higher than when scoring over this trip at Wolverhampton, is hard to oppose. Unico is feared most with first-time cheekpieces added, although The Real Mckay is not ruled out having been nudged up 1lb for a C&D second.
Prediction : 1st Bint Havana Gold 2nd Unico 3rd The Real Mckay

STORM ASSET arguably set sail for home a fraction too early when he was overhauled in the closing stages over the extended 1m1f at Wolverhampton, and can make amends over this shorter distance. Inexplicable is highly effective at this sort of level and having edged out Fanzone to land a similar race over this trip at Newcastle last week, he is taken to cement his authority over that rival and give the selection the most to think about here.
Prediction : 1st Storm Asset 2nd Inexplicable 3rd Fanzone

VAN ZANT went down by just a neck when tried in cheekpieces again in a C&D handicap last week and, with the headgear retained, the Ruth Carr-trained gelding is a solid option now making a quick return to classified company. Copper Mountain, an old rival of the selection's, cannot be ruled out at this sort of level, while Hawajes and Kodebreaker are both capable of being on the premises if on a going day.
Prediction : 1st Van Zant 2nd Copper Mountain 3rd Hawajes