2.30pm Southwell Tips & Betting Preview 20/12/2016

14 horses’ go to post for the feature race at Southwell racecourse on Tuesday worth £9,960. It is a 0-90 Class 3 handicap over seven furlongs. Read on for a full runner by runner guide and tip for the contest.

IN SUMMARY: The form of Young John‘s win at Newcastle is working out very well so it will be interesting to see if he can bounce back but our vote goes to MITHQAAL, a three year old who is bred for this surface. He is tacking Southwell for the very first time for Mick Appleby, a trainer who does extremely well at the track. Horses’ with USA pedigree in their blood tend to do well here and we can expect a massive run from a young horse with plenty of untapped potential. Zaeem is another with solid each way claims.

1 Philba – One of two runners for Mick Appleby who flourishes at Southwell and must be interesting dropping back down into a 0-90. Course and distance winner who here off a mark of 87 back in February and is only three pounds higher now. Respected.

2 Haaf A Sixpence – Prominent runner who was a respectable 7th to Pactolus at Chelmsford last time out, beat about five lengths. Course and distance winner so the surface will hold no issues. His last visit to Southwell was a victorious one and he’s only one pound higher here.

3 Young John – Beat Holiday Magic at Newcastle last month and that form has worked out very well as the Mick Easterby runner has won both of his starts since. One paced sixth at Wolverhampton last time out over 6f and the step up back to 7f should be more in his favour.

4 Jack Of Diamonds – Tailed off on each of his last two starts and although he was 2nd here on his only visit to the track back in 2012, that was off a seven pound lower mark so he has his work cut out for him at the weights.

5 Pearl Spectre – Very useful five year old gelding who won here over a mile back in March off a mark of 77. He runs off 86 here so life will be tougher but he won off 85 at Chelmsford last month so he is a much improved horse. Each way player.

6 Shouranour – Racked up three victories in a row between Pontefract and Catterick in October. That run came to a halt in a big field Doncaster handicap when last seen and he might just be in need of a good break now. Handicapper may have him in his grip.

7 Showboating – 8 year old Shamardal gelding trained by John Balding who has won 8 of his 94 starts to date. Course and distance winner who was 3rd here off a mark of 89 last March so he must enter the equation off a mark of 85 if he is fit and well on a course he enjoys.

8 Jack’s Revenge – Well known for contesting some of the top turf handicaps around and the market will be very telling for this George Baker trained horse. Robert Winston is a good booking and although he is a former course winner, that was off a mark of 50 (runs off 84 here).

9 Merdon Castle – Hold up merchant which is probably not what you want around a track like Southwell considering the severe kickback. This is his first run at the track so he is stepping into the unknown and for all he’s off a decent mark, others look better options.

10 Zaeem – Wide margin winner over this course and distance last January off a mark of 80 and is only three pounds higher here. Ran a better race than the final placings would suggest at Chelmsford last time out and he looks a massive player with the seven pound claimer in the saddle.

11 Bouclier – Like all Tony Carroll runners, the market will be a very accurate guide as to how well this horse should run. First run at Southwell so the surface has to be taken on trust but he has plenty of stamina and stays a mile. Interesting if the money comes.

12 Captain Revelation – Tom Dascombe is one of the hottest trainers around at the moment and this horse stayed on very well to win by half a length over the course and distance last time out, going off a well backed 9/2 shot. There could be plenty more to come; respected.

13 Mithqaal – The second of the Mick Appleby runners and Andrew Mullen has a very good record at the track, dangerous combination. Won twice in the summer at Yarmouth and Newmarket and was only beat two lengths at Chelmsford off 81 last month when 3rd. This is his first run at Southwell but looking at his pedigree (Speightstown / Bestowal (USA), this three year old could be so much better than what we have seen tackling this surface, one he is bred for. Looks the one to beat on paper.

14 Boots And Spurs – Scott Dixon’s runners are on a bit of a cold spell at present which would have to be a worry but the horse is a course winner, will enjoy the trip and is off a very reasonable mark. He was 2nd here off 77 two starts back and a repeat would see him go close once more.