All-weather racing at Southwell

Southwell stages the only all-weather racing today and by far the best race is the class 2 handicap over 6 furlongs at 15.50 CET, a very open affair with 9 runners, most of them with proven CD form. In a similar race here over a furlong further before Christmas Imprimis Tagula (Alan Bailey/ Robert Winston) ran out a very easy winner from Ingleby Arch (David Barron/ Phillip Makin) and Nightjar (Kevin Ryan/ Tom Eaves).

Imprimis Tagula was then in the middle of a purple patch but has shot up in the ratings and so we expect that result to be overturned today. Top-weight Aeroplane (David and Richard Evans) - having his 6th race in less than 3 weeks! - is very consistent, and could be a danger, as could Tourist (Derek Shaw/ Jimmy Quinn).

Another horse that enjoyed a long winning streak before Christmas is Shadows Lengthen (Mick Easterby/ James Sullivan) who won 5 successive races, 4 of them here and 2 of them over 1 1/2 miles, the distance of the handicap at 16.20 this afternoon. He is coming off a short break but still appears feasibly handicapped and he can win again for trainer Mick Easterby and jockey James Sullivan. The latter, a promising young apprentice, can also win the mile handicap at 15.20 on last-time-out CD winner Hit the Switch for trainer Pat Morris.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Cheery Cat - Fuzzy Cat - Dickie Le Davoir
2. Race: Madison Belle - Convince - Miss Xu Xia
3. Race: Hit The Switch - Bestowed - Provost
4. Race: Tourist - Aeroplane - Nightjar
5. Race: Shadows Lengthen - Profit`S Reality - Trachonitis
6. Race: Ghazwah - Bandstand - Apache Moon
7. Race: Wedding Dream - D`Urberville - Temple Fair