2.40pm Southwell Tips & Betting Preview 05/01/2017

Just the seven head to post for this Class 4 handicap over 5f today in the fifth race at Southwell. Read on for our expert’s thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: This should be a strongly run race with Captain Lars likely to be up their early doors and he should give it a good shot to land the hat-trick from a good draw. That being said he has gone up another 6lb after his most recent win and DUNGANNON should be in the best position to get in front of the Derek Shaw runner. He has been running in much better company for the best part of five years now and back down to a Class 4 his handicap mark is dangerous to ignore. If he gets out from Stall 6 he could be tough to beat against a few with questions to answer at present.

1 CAPTAIN LARS – Been in fine form recently winning a 5f Class 5 handicap at Wolverhampton before stepping up in grade to win by a neck carrying a penalty over C&D a week ago. Didn’t have to be at his best to win that last race and he looks set to go well again from Stall 1 with his promising claimer offsetting most of his penalty.

2 DUNGANNON – Enjoys this surface and ran well over C&D twice before winning a Class 3 here in January and has been contesting better races on turf this year without much success. Could have been better drawn than Stall 6 but has the class to see him through this and looks dangerously well handicapped (7lb lower than last win in January), now back down to a Class 4 in the first time in five years. Has blinkers on a and a promising claimer taking off 7lb. Big player.

3 I’LL BE GOOD  – Won over 5f at Chester (Soft) in September but has been largely out of form this year. Hasn’t really fired in his last two AW runs including when only one behind in a eleven-runner event at Lingfield a week ago. Decent inside draw and an unchanged mark but hard to fancy in this line up judged on last two runs and best watched today.

4 CROSSE FIRE – Five time C&D winner and came back to form when third to the reopposing Captain Lars at this track last week and followed up when a fair sixth of 12 in a handicap on this course again four days ago when 4lb out of the handicap. Back on proper mark for this but needs to find a lot more to get closer to the Derek Shaw horse and can be ruled out for win purposes today.

5 THE BIG LAD – Won a ten runner handicap at Lingfield just under three weeks ago in first time eyeshields and makes his fibresand debut today. Up 4lb for that win but did win from a 2lb higher mark last year. Yard in good form and one to note in the betting.

6 ARCHIE STEVENS – Long losing run stretches fourteen runs back to 2015 and ran well over C&D last month before a disappointing fifth of 10 at Lingfield less than a week later. Undoubtedly suffered for the quick reappearance and on a fair mark for this. Recent strike rate off putting for win purposes today and others look stronger.

7 KRYSTALLITE – Another with a losing streak stretching back to 2015 and it’s been twelve runs now since scoring at Wolverhampton, and back on the same mark of 70 for this. Well beaten by Captain Lars when fifth of 9 at Wolverhampton two weeks ago and hard to see her getting involved today with a less than ideal draw given her lack of early pace despite Luke Morris being on board.