2.30pm Southwell Tips & Betting Preview 13/12/2016

Fourteen go to post for this Sprint Handicap and they should go off at a furious pace to land the £4,528 prize money on offer. Read on for our experts’ thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: ELUSIVITY had Mysterious Look and Landing Night behind at Wolverhampton 18 days ago and should be able to get away from these two again if ridden positively by Paul Mulrennan. He should confirm the form with those two and have most to think about from Berlios, who is returning from a break and has now joined David Barron who excels with these types. He should run well if ready to go after a nine-month break.

1 Landing Night – Won over C&D here last year and struck three times since over this trip at Catterick. Has improved for two runs this Autumn on the AW and was a decent fourth of 10 in a class 5 at Wolverhampton 18 days ago just behind Elusivity, running on well and looks to have a good chance of improving now kept to the same grade.

2 Mysterious Look – Been running well for a while now and won here well by a length in March staying on nicely. Showed the same resilience in the finish to dead-heat at Nottingham (Good) two starts ago over this minimum trip. Only fifth of 10 on most recent start on the AW since that win at Wolverhampton at 18 days ago behind Elusivity and Landing Night but hasn’t stopped improving and likely to continue running well for her in-form trainer.

3 Crosse Fire – Has won over this C&D five times now but not since March when getting up to win a class 4 event by ½ length. Well below for and tailed off last threw AW runs and easily overlooked on this occasion. Yard also run Coiste Bodhar.

4 Sir Theodore – Two career-wins at Lingfield (Heavy) and Nottingham (Soft) so far so should appreciate this deeper fibresand at Southwell on debut here. Well beaten when last of sixteen on latest start 48 days ago and best watched with Adam Kirby booked for today.

5 Elusivity – Didn’t have an inspiring time of it in his early days but has become a good servant for this yard. Won three times on the AW in the Spring including two here in small field class 5 and class 6 events. Hasn’t won since scoring at Catterick in May over this trip and good second behind Dynamo Walt (won well on Saturday at Newcastle) three starts later. Third on last start at Wolverhampton 18 days ago just ahead of the re-opposing Landing Night and Mysterious Look. Can get involved from a good draw in stall 3 if bringing his A-game and jockey in fine form.

6 Something Lucky – Won at Wolverhampton in February, getting up by ¾ length in a class 5 handicap but has been largely out of form on the AW since. Makes his fibresand debut today and on a decent enough mark but recent form hardly inspires confidence for this.

7 Berlios – Previously trained by Conor O’Dwyer and showed his best form to date when winning on final start here over this trip in March by a length. Absent since then and has now joined David Barron. Should come on for the run and interesting if market vibes are strong.

8 Interlink – Won a class 5 in good style at Chelmsford over 6f in October but two poor runs since stepping up to class 4’s. Drop in grade and trip might help here and not without a chance on fibresand debut.

9 Powerful Wind – Seems to be better on turf these days and only win here came in 2013 but is on a good mark and has tons of early speed so should cope well here.  Last of 10 in a class 4 handicap at Chelmsford on last start and has an absence of 128 days to overcome. Dangerous to rule out.

10 Coiste Bodhar – Two-time winner over 6f here last year and got up to win by a short head earlier in March. Handicapper seems to have been lenient this time around and with talent claimer taking off another 7lb he could improve on his ninth of 10 in a Handicap at Wolverhampton behind three of these. Unlikely to overturn form with those ones today.

11 Jack Luey – Notched the first win of his career here in 2009 but has had a largely uninspiring strike-rate since, with six wins in seven years on turf, the last coming at Pontefract (Good/Firm) in a class 5 handicap in July. Out-of-form since and stone last of 14 on the AW at Newcastle on latest start. Others look stronger.

12 Red Stripes – Won here before over 6f at the start of last year but has save best performances for Chelmsford with three wins there since at 6f and then twice dropped to 5f. Hasn’t won in a year but last two starts in this grade have seen him placed on both occasions. Others have better recent AW form and best watched for now.

13 Archie Stevens – Now back below his last winning mark but hasn’t won in twelve runs since 2015 and needs a few of these to have an off-day to get involved here.

14 You’re Cool – Three AW wins to his name but not scored here since one and only fifth placed finish back in March last year. Obviously doesn’t handle conditions here and only tenth of 11 in a class 5 handicap at Redcar 98 days ago. Had been running well earlier in the year but needs to rediscover that trouble the market principals here.