4.55pm Southwell Tips & Betting Preview 04/04/2017

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

IN SUMMARY: DUSTY BLUE landed a gamble on his last run over C&D and he’s only been raised 3lbs for that effort and can go in again here for the David Loughnane stable. Annie Salts should be capable of a good effort in this but is probably just on the wrong side of the weights whilst Borough Boy could prove the biggest threat for a yard in flying form.

1 HENLEY – Relatively consistent last year with a victory and a few placed efforts to his name. They all came on the turf although he didn’t run too poorly at Southwell at the very start of the season off today’s mark of 66. It’s most likely that he will need this run off a layoff and his career record of one win from 18 starts is off-putting. One for later in the season back on the turf.

2 JACOB’S PILLOW – C&D winner on his last start off a 3lb lower mark. He was well-supported that day and he’s able to remain in Class 6 company today so there’s every chance he can put in another good run against similar opposition. He’s on a fair mark based on old form but this is probably his level and he’s vulnerable to a few in this. Worth respect but the stable have sent out just one winner from 22 runners at Southwell.

3 ANNIE SALTS – First run on the fibresand today this Zebedee filly is a pound lower than her last start. She wasn’t discredited that day at Wolverhampton over 5 furlongs and she’s capable in this grade having won off marks of 60 and 61 in Class 6 company. Silvestre De Sousa takes over the ride (has won on her previously) and she can win a race of this nature although looking slightly against it at the weights.

4 DUSTY BLUE – Landed a small gamble over C&D in early March having been well-backed throughout the morning and winning off a 3lb lower mark. She’s since transferred stables to the David Loughnane yard and it’ll be interesting to see how she fares here for her new stable. She’s still on a feasible mark having run to ratings in the high 60’s and low 70’s last year and she’s worth a close market check again.

5 BOROUGH BOY – Has been stepped up in trip of late having lost a slight bit of pace against younger opposition. He drops back down to 5 furlongs today and was beaten just 1 length by Jacob’s Pillow when the pair met over C&D. He’s 3lbs better off with that rival today and he should get closer off what is clearly a workable mark having been rated 80 just this time last year. Worth plenty of respect for a yard in phenomenal form (63% strike rate, 5 winners from his last 8 runners).

6 ZYLAN – Has a regressive profile having slipped from a mark of 77 right down to today’s mark of 59 over the course of a year or so. He crosses the pond to race in the UK for his new trainer, Roger Fell, and it’s hard to be enthusiastic about his chances having been well-beaten off just 4lbs higher at Dundalk in October. He’ll probably need this run and is best watched now dropped right down in trip.

7 NOVABRIDGE – Has done well for this yard since arriving late last year with two victories and two placed efforts to his name. He showed he was still well-treated when second over C&D last time out off today’s mark and he’s turned out quickly here before the handicapper can have his say. He’s become a consistent performer of late and should be prominent in the betting here.

8 PULSATING – Faced a very difficult task last time out over 5 furlongs at Lingfield. That came in a hot Class 3 contest and she’ll do much better now dropped into the right grade. She won a seller two starts ago from a nice enough sort and she should be capable off this mark with a massive weight-for-age allowance in her favour today. Plenty of positives about her in this having run well at this track previously.