3.00pm Southwell Tips & Betting Preview 14/08/2016

The feature race on Sunday’s Southwell card is a 2m4f handicap chase worth £14,000 to the winner. Read our full race preview for our experts’ betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: This competitive Class 2 event provides jump racing fans with a much-appreciated mid-summer treat. Decent cases can be made for several runners and thorough stayer Silver Man seems likely to make it a good test at the trip. PRESENTING ARMS won’t be out of his comfort zone if the early pace is strong and, after suffering an unfortunate mishap on his latest outing, his is selected to get his promising chasing career back on track. Cernunnos was still very much in the thick of the action before his last-flight fall in a valuable event last month and is second choice. At bigger prices, Cusheen Bridge could be worth a speculative interest, given he is unexposed as a chaser and has run well over hurdles here on a few occasions.

1 Presenting Arms – Useful hurdler who has taken well to chasing this year and ran a big race when second in a Worcester handicap (2m4f, good) in May; found one just too strong in a novice event back there in June but that still goes down as a good effort and he was unlucky to be carried out on his latest outing; commands respect.

2 Cernunnus – Seemed to find 3m1f on soft ground too taxing when pulled up at the Aintree festival in April but looked set to be placed at worse before last-fence fall in the Listed Summer Plate at Market Rasen (2m5f, good) last month; subsequent 2lb nudge up the weight won’t prevent another bold show here.

3 Ballykan – Seemed to lose his way after bright start to his chasing career last September but was all set to capitalise on a drop in class before running out at the final fence at Stratford (2m6f, soft) last month and soon made amends for those antics when winning with a bit to spare at Perth (2m4f, soft); back up the weights now but today’s faster ground won’t be a problem.

4 Silver Man – Better known for his exploits over staying trips but gave very good account when dropped to 2m4f for a competitive event at Uttoxeter last month, finishing fourth; failed to exploit novice status over hurdles on latest outing but usually sticks well to his task and will presumably be keen to ensure this is run at a good clip.

5 Purple ‘n Gold – Ran right up to his best form when close third in a competitive race at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) three weeks ago and can’t be ignored after that performance, but his revised mark will probably leave him vulnerable and this quirky customer can sometimes be a tricky horse to win with.

6 Roman Flight – Useful hurdler who is lightly raced over fences and rallied well to beat a progressive rival in a Class 2 event at Stratford (2m1f, good) last month; not in same form on latest outing over fences but will be fine over today’s trip and didn’t run badly in a valuable Flat handicap on Friday.

7 Minella Definitely – Drew 9l clear when taking advantage of some help from the handicapper at Cartmel (2m1f, good) in May but went back up 9lb for that and last month’s staying-on fifth at Uttoxeter, though perfectly respectable, suggests he’s a shade too high in the weights again now.

8 Cusheen Bridge – Well beaten on chasing debut in June but has run to a level somewhere near his best hurdling form on last couple of runs over fences, more recently when winning gamely from off the pace at Market Rasen (2m5f, good) last month; 7lb higher in a stronger race here but is well suited by this track and has each-way claims.

9 Cut The Corner – Gained first chasing success over C&D in September and produced a good performance to double his tally in this sphere, at Market Rasen (2m5f, good) last month; was treated quite sternly by the handicapper afterwards, though, and has struggled to land a blow in stronger company on last couple of outings.

10 Wadswick Court – Well handicapped on best hurdle form and his second over fences at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good to soft) in June was a decent effort, but he’s 0-6 as a chaser after unseating rider on his latest outing and, in this stronger race, others have more pressing claims.

myracing Forecast Prices: 3/1 Cernunnus, 4/1 Presenting Arms, 5/1 Ballykan, 7/1 Cusheen Bridge, 8/1 Purple ‘n Gold, 10/1 Wadswick Court, 12/1 Roman Flight, Cut The Corner, 14/1 Silver Man, Minella Definitely