January 23 / 18.45 Southwell (AW)

18.45

Standard

BetMGM Supports Safer Gambling Handicap (Div II)

  • Prize money: £4972.3
  • 0m 7f 14y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
BetMGM Supports Safer Gambling Handicap (Div II)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Light rain

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 9361-1 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Thoroughly exposed 10yo but back in the groove after wins here (7f) and at Newcastle (1m); hurled up 11lb for his troubles but he has less to prove than many in here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(1)

26th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 4

15:50 Redcar

Eligible

9st 6lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Veteran who won over 7f at Southwell in January but has been rather below his best since; equally effective on turf and has won over 1m on fast ground; others look better handicapped.

16/1

8th

4

(8)

25th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

19:00 Southwell (AW)

Eligible

9st 6lb

J: Lewis Chalkley

T: Michael & David Easterby

Seven of his 12 wins have been here (five over this trip); has never won off a mark this high however and most likely needs to drop a few pounds.

20/1

8th

3

(8)

27th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Eligible

9st 8lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

No signs of age dimming his enthusiasm, completing a December/January hat-trick (second leg over 1m here); a slow start didn't help when sixth of 12 at Southwell last time and he can be treated as if still in form.

14/1

14/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 06400- C

Last run: 90 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Easy to make a case on last year's peak form but signed off with two quiet runs and now back from three months off; not without hope if the break has done him good; has form here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

21th

14

(10)

23rd May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:00 York

Feel The Need

9st 3lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Michael Herrington

Most of his 14 races at York have been over 7f, including wins in this race in 2024 and another last June; absent since second on AW in January and that's the longest break he's had for two years, which asks a question, but he has to be considered off his last winning mark.

16/1

2nd

7

(3)

23rd Jan 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

18:45 Southwell (AW)

Feel The Need

9st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Michael Herrington

Easy to make a case on last year's peak form but signed off with two quiet runs and now back from three months off; not without hope if the break has done him good; has form here.

14/1

11th

7

(7)

25th Oct 2025

Heavy

0m 7f 6y

Class 4

17:00 Doncaster

Feel The Need

9st 9lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Michael Herrington

Enters the equation on best 7f form this year but his latest run at York, where he often goes well, was a letdown; seems to handle heavy ground, having finished close up in his sole attempt on it, but it's not necessarily a plus and he has a shade to prove now.

14/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 1750-6

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Hasn't been that threatening since winning in a first-time tongue-tie at Chelmsford in October (6f); unplaced and sixth in two previous runs at 7f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

(5)

23rd Jan 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

18:45 Southwell (AW)

Sensorium

9st 0lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Dylan Cunha

Hasn't been that threatening since winning in a first-time tongue-tie at Chelmsford in October (6f); unplaced and sixth in two previous runs at 7f.

10/1

1st

9

(1)

23rd Oct 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

17:15 Chelmsford (AW)

Sensorium

9st 5lb

J: David Egan

T: Dylan Cunha

Made all in a maiden at Beverley (5f, good to firm) last July before finishing third of 20 in a sales race at the York Ebor Meeting (6f, good to firm), but he's been below that level in five starts this year; mark is dropping and tongue-tie is now tried on AW debut.

12/1

4/1

Form: 0707-5 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Well treated on last year's high points and it wasn't a bad run from off the pace at Chelmsford 12 days ago, given how that race panned out (pulled hard/got behind/found trouble); the cheekpieces are worth persevering with.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

12

(11)

6th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Tolstoy

9st 4lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Brian Ellison

Too headstrong in a clear lead at Southwell (7f) last time, so did fairly well to be beaten only 2l in the end; gained last win off 10lb higher at Newcastle in August 2024; fighting chance provided he settles.

10/1

4th

6

(6)

23rd Jan 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

18:45 Southwell (AW)

Tolstoy

9st 6lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Well treated on last year's high points and it wasn't a bad run from off the pace at Chelmsford 12 days ago, given how that race panned out (pulled hard/got behind/found trouble); the cheekpieces are worth persevering with.

4/1

7th

13

(5)

13th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

13:15 Doncaster

Tolstoy

8st 9lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Brian Ellison

Well suited by York and went close there in June; inconsistent otherwise during a 2025 campaign that has been markedly less productive than 2024; cheekpieces refitted for the first time since 2022; opposed.

40/1

9/2

Form: 2372-2

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 6lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Six-time AW winner who continues to run well off this sort of mark, as when beaten only a head at Wolverhampton last week (8.6f); however, this is a very belated return to 7f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

(4)

30th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 4

18:42 Lingfield

Hitched

9st 2lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: David Simcock

A regular on the AW here (three wins) who's much higher in the weights than when last seen frequently on turf; generally consistent but whether he's up to this mark on grass is the leading question, and Quamby looks his trainer's best chance.

25/1

13th

14

(14)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

15:15 Lingfield (AW)

Hitched

9st 0lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: David Simcock

Four-time winner over 1m/1m2f here and just 1lb higher than when beating a dual subsequent winner at Wolverhampton (8.6f, Tapeta) in January, but he has the outside stall and will require some luck given his come-from-behind style.

25/1

4th

6

(4)

13th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 4

18:10 Wolverhampton (AW)

Hitched

9st 3lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: David Simcock

C&D win in January off a 1lb lower mark; not so good twice since but he is not the type to stay down for long.

15/2

OUR TIP

9/4

Form: 75631- CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Yet another C&D success when doing it comfortably just before Christmas having raced prominently throughout; 6lb rise sees him on a career-high mark but he'll go well if in similar form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(4)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

19:00 Southwell (AW)

King Of Ithaca

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: James Tate

6-31 on AW, four of those wins gained over C&D and the most recent a ready success from a 1lb lower mark last December; failed to settle on outer when only eighth of 12 (Jersey Maverick sixth, State of Madness ninth) at Kempton three weeks ago; others arrive in better form.

10/1

8th

2

(12)

8th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

18:30 Kempton (AW)

King Of Ithaca

9st 9lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: James Tate

Best known for his Southwell exploits, but has run well here including a win over this trip; the outside stall is not ideal, though.

10/1

5th

6

(4)

13th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 3

17:45 Southwell (AW)

King Of Ithaca

8st 9lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: James Tate

Last four wins have been gained over C&D at Class 5 or lower, and tonight's would be the highest banded handicap he has taken in to date; drop back from 1m rates a plus, but clear career best likely required.

10/1

12/1

Form: 1835-6 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Won easily at Wolverhampton in November (7f) and was 10lb higher than that day when a close third at Newcastle the following month; now has to rebound from two lesser efforts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(3)

20th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 50y

Class 5

16:12 Ayr

Al Muqdad

9st 7lb

J: David Nolan

T: David O’Meara

His form has been patchy since an easy win at Wolverhampton (7f, AW) last November but he's 2lb below that last winning mark and his form figures at Ayr read 3112, so it will be no surprise if he's in the mix.

7/2

6th

6

(7)

31st Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 5

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Al Muqdad

9st 4lb

J: Jason Watson

T: David O’Meara

Ran away with a 0-70 handicap over C&D in November but hit with a 10lb rise and he has come up short in eight subsequent runs; now back to his last winning mark and cheekpieces return after being left off at Southwell ten days ago; one to consider.

10/1

10th

6

(2)

21st Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

17:43 Southwell (AW)

Al Muqdad

9st 6lb

J: Jason Watson

T: David O’Meara

Below best this year, managing only sixth of eight in refitted cheekpieces (now removed) at Newcastle (7f) a fortnight ago, but he's effective over this C&D, well drawn and too well handicapped to rule out.

10/1

Form: 84390- D

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Ascot novice winner for Brian Meehan but became hard to predict for that yard and sold on for 30,000gns; made a quiet debut for this trainer at Wolverhampton a month ago when a market drifter.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

(5)

7th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 2

19:00 Southwell (AW)

Law Of Design

9st 3lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Ian Williams

Some fair turf form for Brian Meehan, but despite plummeting in the weights has shown little in three AW starts for this yard, failing to beat a rival over 7f here in January; cheekpieces given a go, but some way down the stable's pecking order.

16/1

5th

1

(8)

12th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Law Of Design

9st 9lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Ian Williams

Yet to fire for his new yard but he met some traffic issues when last of eight in 7f Southwell handicap 20 days ago; he was a fair 7f winner at his best for Brian Meehan so possibilities on his first go on Polytrack.

16/1

8th

4

(8)

23rd Jan 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

18:45 Southwell (AW)

Law Of Design

9st 6lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Ian Williams

Ascot novice winner for Brian Meehan but became hard to predict for that yard and sold on for 30,000gns; made a quiet debut for this trainer at Wolverhampton a month ago when a market drifter.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £23.20
Straight Forecast £21.35
Tricast £130.55
Trifecta £221.30

Selections

POSTDATA:

King Of Ithaca

SPOTLIGHT:

Feel The Need

THE NORTH:

Eligible

The Sun:

Hitched

RP RATINGS:

Feel The Need

TOPSPEED:

Feel The Need

The Times:

Feel The Need

NEWMARKET:

King Of Ithaca

Telegraph:

King Of Ithaca

The Guardian:

King Of Ithaca

The Star:

King Of Ithaca

Daily Record:

King Of Ithaca

Daily Mail:

Eligible

D Express:

Eligible

Daily Mirror:

Eligible