Jamie Spencer at Southwell today

Today´s modest all-weather meeting at Southwell is brightened by the presence of top jockey Jamie Spencer, who has a full book of 7 rides and looks unlikely to travel home empty-handed. His best chance of success is probably Eddie Vaughan´s Dance and Dance in the 6 furlongs maiden race at 16.30 CET after his good run last time. Although it is usually risky backing 3yo´s against their elders at this time of year, the older horses in the field do not seem to have much ability. Spencer also partners the likely favourite, Kevin Ryan´s Majuro, in the day´s best race, a 7 furlongs handicap at 15.30, but although there are only 7 runners, this is quite a tricky event. Mozayada (Mel Brittain/ Jimmy Quinn) will be popular, having won 5 of his last 6 starts, all here, but he was partnered to all those successes by Franny Norton, who now rides Nightjar for in-form trainer Mark Johnston. Nightjar is unbeaten at this track and can possibly remain so. Spencer also has a chance in the 1 1/2 mile handicap at 16.00 on Jane Chapple-Hyam´s Clear Reef, but the question mark in this race is the Schlenderhan-bred Sommersturm (Andrew Stringer/ Micky Fenton). Barney Curley´s German horses, all bought from the Ullmann family, have been running really badly, but sooner or later they will come into form, and despite top-weight Sommersturm is thrown in on his old German form.

Betting forecast:
1.Race: Jordi Roper - Cabopino - Nabeeda
2.Race: Blue Charm - Hamaasy - Lethal
3.Race: Mambo Sun - West End Lad - Petroglyph
4.Race: Mozayada - Majuro - Internationaldebut
5.Race: Clear Reef - Il Grande Ardone - Persian Peril
6.Race: Dance And Dance - Angel Song - Lively Blade
7.Race: Cause For Applause - Kingaroo - Shifting Gold