3.45pm Southwell Tips and Betting Preview 03/10/2017

3.45pm Southwell tips for Tuesday’s Class 4 race. Despite only six horses going to post, this race still promises to be a cracker with some useful types contesting for victory. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis.

IN SUMMARY: Despite the fact he will likely need this run, Royale Knight is potentially thrown in off his hurdling mark and market support on his seasonal debut should be noted. That said, SPECIAL PREP has run well in three starts over hurdles thus far for Pauline Robson, despite the trip being inadequate for him and he gets the vote. He kept on well for fourth at Uttoxeter when last seen but lacked a final gear change, with this step up in trip to three miles a blessing. He has a brilliant conditional jockey on board and can make a mockery of his opening mark of 112.

1 ROYALE KNIGHT – 11-year-old for Dr Richard Newland who hasn’t been seen since finishing well beaten in the Welsh Grand National. He now returns to hurdling off a 21 pound lower mark and is potentially very well treated, so has to be respected with conditions to suit. He is, however, entitled to need this run.

2 ALF ‘N’ DOR – One win from eight hurdling starts which came four starts ago off a four pound lower mark. He looked in the handicapper’s grip in three subsequent hurdling starts though and he was well beaten on his latest start in May. James Bowen takes off three pounds, but others are preferred.

3 COTTERSROCK – Won over hurdles back in April 2016, but he’s been generally disappointing since, pulled up on his last two runs over both codes in August. He has plenty to prove now and others are readily preferred as he’s clearly not in love with the game at present.

4 SPECIAL PREP – Showed aptitude for hurdling in three runs so far for Pauline Robson, not beaten far at Uttoxeter when last seen. A mark of 112 on handicap debut isn’t harsh and this step up in trip will suit him immensely as a point-to-point winner. Mitchell Basytan is a great jockey booking and he should be tough to beat.

5 MARIENSTAR – Six-year-old mare whose stamina at this distance is very questionable, with further doubts added after she faded late on over 2m 3f at Warwick just seven days ago. She has a chance off her current mark, but there are too many risks on this occasion.

6 SERPICO – Lightly raced sort who has shown promise in some of his runs over timber, with excuses for his latest start as he broke a blood vessel. He has stamina to prove on stable debut for Graeme McPherson though and he’s likely to find at least one of these too strong.