2.40pm Southwell Tips & Betting Preview 04/04/2017

This is a tricky 5f maiden at Southwell, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Long standing maiden Azraak is starting to look exposed so a chance is taken on HART STOPPER in this. Michael Bell has an excellent record at Southwell and his unexposed runner can progress again and better that record with Jamie Spencer on board for the first time. Stopdworldletmeoff may run better than the odds suggest.

1 SLIPALONGTREVASKIS – 3,500GNS purchase as a yearling and he’s generally run to that price tag in two runs to date. He’s been beaten 18 1/2 and 19 lengths respectively on his last two starts and looked woefully one paced over 6 furlongs. He arrives at Southwell today for his first attempt on fibresand and he’s against it here on today’s terms. He’ll do better in handicaps.

2 TARTUFO CLASSICO – Out of a mare who was a winner at Southwell but that came in handicap company it’s likely to be a similar story for Derek Shaw’s runner here. He was well-beaten in a 5-furlong sprint at Chelmsford just a couple of weeks ago and although stepping up in trip, is likely to find a few too good here, giving plenty of weight away to more attractive rivals. Avoided.

3 ARZAAK – One of the most experienced runners in the field and has been frustrating this season with a string of placed efforts over 6 furlongs. It’s his first attempt on the fibresand today and connections apply first time blinkers in an attempt to break his maiden tag. He’s officially rated 73 so he sets the standard in this and Silvestre De Sousa gets on board again and he should be winning a race of this nature. Yard in decent form of late (22% strike rate last 14 days).

4 HART STOPPER – 50,000GNS 2yo and he has shaped with promise on two starts to date. The first of those came in a better maiden than this at Haydock last spring and it was a surprise that connections didn’t bring him out again until earlier this year. He showed progression on his second start having been gelded and he finished behind a few decent enough sorts. Should be more to come from him and Jamie Spencer takes over in the saddle. Yard have an excellent 24% strike rate at Southwell.

5 SHEEPSCAR LAD – £30,000 2yo who has plenty of experience under his belt. He’s placed three times to date and the latest of those came off a winter break at Newcastle over 5 furlongs in March. He should progress again following that layoff and could be dangerous here if he can take another step forward on his first attempt on the fibresand. Has placed in better races than this but has something to find with Arzaak at the weights.

6 STOPDWORLDLETMEOF – Sent off a big price over C&D in March but ran with credit finishing behind a couple of nice enough types. Unlike many in this, he has experience of the surface and he’s still a colt so connections may feel there is yet more to come. Hollie Doyle has been in excellent form of late (24% strike rate) and this son of Piccolo could be one of interest at the bigger prices.

7 JOYSUNNY – Finished behind Stopdworldletmeoff at Southwell last time out when beaten 15 1/2 lengths by the winner. She’s run three times to date and the handicapper has given her an assessment of 40 which gives her a lot to do against some of these. Interesting that connections don’t go for handicaps and a 7lb claimer is utilised here. Hard to fancy.

8 TOOTY FRUITTI – Showed a modest amount of improvement on her last start, finishing third of six behind some average sorts. She should come on again for that experience and remains at the 5f trip having fared relatively well at the distance last time out. She will receive a handicap mark following today’s run and may be seen to better effect in handicaps later in the season.