11.45am Southwell Tips & Betting Preview 29/12/2016

6 stayers go to post for a prize of £7,000 for the opening race of the day at Southwell, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: It will not be an easy task to beat the improving Medicine Hat, but FERN OWL is well handicapped on previous evidence and drops back to Class 5 company for the first time since winning at Kempton back in September. A definite stayer at this trip, he should make a bold bid to get back into the winners enclosure today.

1 KATIE GALE – Finished 4 lengths behind Goldslinger here over shorter last week (1m 6f, Std) but should appreciate the return to this longer trip. She’s a previous C&D winner and should be in the thick of the action for the inform Michael Appleby yard.

2 MEDICINE HAT – Won his last two flat starts, the latest of which when emphatically putting his rivals to the sword at Wolverhampton earlier this month, running away a 7 length winner under hands and heels (2m, Std). Still very much unexposed at these staying trips, he should have more to give in this sphere and it’d be a big surprise to not see him going close for Marjorie Fife and Sam James.

3 FERN OWL – Seems nicely handicapped if judged upon his previous wins on the polytrack and tapeta surfaces, the latest of which came when winning at Kempton in September (2m, Std to Slw). Has been running respectably since including a decent enough 5th at Kempton over 2m a few weeks ago and drops back to Class 5 company for the first time since that win at Kempton, so there is hope he can return to winning ways today.

4 GOLDSLINGER – 4 lengths ahead of Katie Gale when 2nd here over 1m 6f last week, keeping on well but no match for the winner. Very interesting now upped in trip and should appreciate it if judged upon that previous effort but his pedigree doesn’t give many clues as to whether he would stay on well. Will need to show more but if staying he should have each way claims.

5 TARAKKOM – Finished lame at Kempton a few weeks ago (2m, Std to Slw) and is now on his last winning mark due to inconsistent performances since that last win which came at Chepstow back in May (2m, Soft). Doesn’t strike as the likeliest winner if judged upon his last four displays on all weather surfaces so probably best watched today.

6 HEAVENSFIELD – Maiden after 8 starts and didn’t show much at her first attempt at this trip at Newcastle in November, although she did pull his way to the front, but eventually set a very steady pace and couldn’t quicken (2m, Std). Will need to show much more to get off the mark today.