February 02 / 15.25 Southwell (AW)

15.25

Standard

BetUK’s Acca Club £5 Free Bet Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £12960
  • 1m 4f 14y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.90
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 1/18- D

Last run: 82 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Off for 629 days after a winning debut for the Gosdens and returned in September with another Polytrack success at Kempton (1m4f), defying a penalty; this is more realistic than latest Listed assignment; Tapeta debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

3

(6)

7th Nov 2023

Standard

1m 5f 0y

Class 1

13:47 Lingfield (AW)

Evania

9st 5lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Lightly raced 5yo who won three of her first four starts on the AW, the latest at Southwell (1m4f, Tapeta) in February; has been mostly quiet since, though, and this looks a tough task; stable also runs Malka.

33/1

5th

1

(5)

28th Sep 2023

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

17:53 Newmarket

Evania

10st 1lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Very lightly raced 5yo who is unproven on turf and has been below par the last twice; however, she's on a competitive mark judged on her AW form earlier this year and is a player if back on song following a break.

7/1

6th

6

(5)

24th May 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

20:10 Kempton (AW)

Evania

9st 1lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Unexposed mare with a good record on AW, including a C&D win; wouldn't judge her too harshly on latest heavy defeat at Goodwood (Listed) and she still has time to do better in this sphere.

9/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 111-22

Last run: 5 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
His three wins (from 11 runs) came in succession late last year, all handicaps at about 1m2f (one on Tapeta); every bit as good in defeat since then, especially last weekend in a Class 2 event at Kempton; very solid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

27

(20)

21st Oct 2025

Soft

1m 2f 0y

17:00 Curragh

Capital Theory

10st 5lb

J: Sadhbh Tormey

T: H D McGuigan

Had this rider aboard when scoring at Naas nine days ago, with Considering back in third; worth considering; first reserve.

2

(16)

12th Oct 2025

Yielding

1m 2f 125y

16:55 Naas

Capital Theory

9st 12lb

J: Sadhbh Tormey

T: H D McGuigan

Step in the right direction at Bellewstown recently (1m4f, soft); drop in trip could suit.

12/1

3rd

2

(5)

1st Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 4f 110y

16:33 Bellewstown

Capital Theory

10st 0lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: H D McGuigan

Competitive but below best form in two claimers this summer for current yard and then tailed off in a 2m2f handicap at Down Royal; others appeal more.

12/1

13/2

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 43124- D

Last run: 89 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Bolted up on debut for yard at Nottingham (1m2f, soft; after a break) in October and continued the good work with placed efforts in 1m2f/1m4f heavy-ground handicaps at Doncaster; has only raced once on the AW (seventh in a novice) and he's unraced on Tapeta but very much considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(10)

23rd May 2026

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 4

20:45 Salisbury

First Officer

9st 6lb

J: Alexandra Egan

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Six-time winner but only one of those came in a double-figure field (October 2022); ran well at Newmarket when last seen eight months ago; has gone well fresh in the past; others appeal more all the same.

10/1

5

(6)

25th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Newmarket

First Officer

9st 8lb

J: Alexandra Egan

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Beat three rivals over 1m4f on the July Course here (good to firm) under Alexandra Egan in midsummer; comfortably held in three outings since but has dipped back to that successful mark.

6/1

4th

4

(2)

23rd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 3

15:45 Newmarket (July)

First Officer

9st 1lb

J: David Egan

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Beat three rivals over 1m4f here in July since when he's been comfortably held; on the plus side, he might appreciate this belated return to 1m6f as he does have form over this far.

5/1

Form: 4/2-1 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Beaten at odds of 1-2 here in November but that was after a long absence and he then won comfortably at Kempton (1m4f); interesting handicap debutant for a top yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

(4)

10th May 2024

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

15:40 Chester

Aztec Empire

8st 9lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Dual Polytrack winner; won just the second of his eight handicaps but clocked up two placings in hot 2m races on good or good to firm last summer (neck second to Forza Orta at York) before a disappointing show in September when last seen; gelded since; seriously involved if back to form and it looks like he'll have his ground; in the mix.

11/2

4th

9

(4)

10th May 2024

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

15:40 Chester

Aztec Empire

8st 9lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Dual Polytrack winner; won just the second of his eight handicaps but clocked up two placings in hot 2m races on good or good to firm last summer (neck second to Forza Orta at York) before a disappointing show in September when last seen; gelded since; seriously involved if back to form and it looks like he'll have his ground; in the mix.

11/2

14/1

Form: 5/111/

Last run: 565 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Hasn't really shone over hurdles for current yard but she's a ten-time Flat winner who won all three of her runs for John Mackie in 2021 (1m2f/1m3f); acts on Tapeta and she should be well handicapped.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(8)

2nd Feb 2023

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 3

15:25 Southwell (AW)

Colony Queen

9st 9lb

J: Laura Pearson

T: David Pipe

Hasn't really shone over hurdles for current yard but she's a ten-time Flat winner who won all three of her runs for John Mackie in 2021 (1m2f/1m3f); acts on Tapeta and she should be well handicapped.

14/1

6th

2

30th Dec 2022

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 1

14:15 Taunton

Colony Queen

11st 4lb

J: Tom Scudamore

T: David Pipe

Ten Flat wins but yet to strike over hurdles; well beaten in a handicap here nine days ago; blinkers added to the tongue-strap worn then.

50/1

8th

6

21st Dec 2022

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

12:53 Taunton

Colony Queen

11st 7lb

J: Tom Scudamore

T: David Pipe

Took a step forward when second in a Huntingdon novice (2m, good) last month on her third hurdle start, and she reportedly lost her action when pulled up on subsequent handicap debut here; has potential off her current mark in view of her useful Flat ability; a tongue-tie goes on; could go well.

6/1

Form: 73414-

Last run: 113 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Useful hurdler who ran well in two competitive handicaps before perhaps unsuited by soft ground at Musselburgh one month ago; something to prove on AW surfaces (0-2) but he's very capable on the Flat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

2

3rd Feb 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 2

14:50 Musselburgh

First Impression

11st 5lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: John & Sean Quinn

Useful dual-purpose performer but he's on a tough mark over hurdles, now 8lb higher than for his last win (last February) after going up 3lb for a narrow defeat at Doncaster; should give his running but others are preferred for win purposes.

8/1

2nd

9

16th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 2

14:40 Doncaster

First Impression

10st 3lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: John Quinn

raced in second

16/1

0

2

(5)

28th Sep 2023

Good To Soft

1m 2f 5y

Class 3

15:55 Pontefract

First Impression

9st 7lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John Quinn

In top form at Chester since returning from a three-month break, posting a win (1m2f, soft) then a good second (1m2f, good to soft); also effective elsewhere and he can give another good account.

11/2

16/1

Form: 14461- D

Last run: 46 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Apparently all the better for a break when winning a Class 4 1m6f handicap under Aiden Brookes at Wolverhampton in December, for which he's been raised 3lb; may struggle in this deeper, better-quality contest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(5)

9th Jul 2025

Good

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

16:20 Catterick

Myboymax

9st 7lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Has won twice here (including over C&D); three places behind Cosmic Soul when fifth of eight over C&D (good) last month; no improvement with blinkers reinstated (retained) at Nottingham 13 days ago; needs to show improvement.

12/1

3rd

5

(2)

26th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

17:07 Nottingham

Myboymax

8st 11lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Catterick regular who was fifth of eight runners there 16 days ago when behind Morandi Second; that race wasn't run to suit and his previous effort there was better; the return of blinkers is no bad thing.

16/1

Form: 1/S42- D

Last run: 125 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Four Flat wins include two on Polytrack (unraced on Tapeta) and he was runner-up over 2m at Ascot in September before 15l and 19l defeats in good handicap chases on either side of wind surgery; finishing effort last time at Ludlow left a bit to be desired but his ability is respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

16th Jun 2023

Good

2m 0f 103y

Class 3

19:35 Aintree

Gumball

11st 6lb

J: Miss Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Wasn't in the best of form in second half of last season; on a fair mark now, but others stronger.

9/1

8th

2

19th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 3

17:00 Cheltenham

Gumball

11st 13lb

J: Miss Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

A case can be made on plenty of his form, but he didn't impress with his finishing effort in handicap chases at Ascot or Ludlow before finishing well held on the AW and again back over hurdles a month ago.

25/1

6th

1

13th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

15:15 Stratford

Gumball

12st 2lb

J: Miss Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

A case can be made on plenty of his form, but he didn't impress with his finishing effort in handicap chases at Ascot or Ludlow before finishing well held on the AW; reservations.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: 4773-8 CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Beat only one home at Lingfield last time after a close third at Wolverhampton (1m4f); capable of running well but he's always needed things to fall just right.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

26th Oct 2023

Standard

1m 5f 0y

Class 5

17:20 Lingfield (AW)

Protected Guest

10st 3lb

J: Tom Queally

T: George Margarson

7th

1

(5)

9th Oct 2023

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 4

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Protected Guest

10st 1lb

J: Tom Queally

T: George Margarson

slowly away, in rear

10/1

8th

12

(9)

13th Sep 2023

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 2

20:45 Southwell (AW)

Protected Guest

8st 3lb

J: Luke Morris

T: George Margarson

Performed respectably at Kempton on most recent AW attempt but was no match for Saratoga Gold and this is a higher grade; well exposed 8yo who is on a 16-race losing sequence; opposed.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.10
Straight Forecast £13.83
Tricast £78.68
Trifecta £76.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Capital Theory

Telegraph:

Aztec Empire

The Times:

Evania

The Sun:

First Officer

TOPSPEED:

Myboymax

NEWMARKET:

Protected Guest

Daily Mail:

Aztec Empire

The Star:

Aztec Empire

Daily Record:

Aztec Empire

RP Ratings:

Capital Theory

POSTDATA:

Capital Theory

D Express:

Capital Theory

Daily Mirror:

Capital Theory

The Guardian:

Evania