February 28 / 18.30 Southwell (AW)

18.30

Standard

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  • Prize money: £9002.48
  • 1m 3f 23y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
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Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £2.60

Form: 913 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Off the mark at the second attempt in a 1m novice here last month, but beaten around 7l when third of 12 under his penalty over the same trip 11 days later; steps up 3f for this handicap debut, but his pedigree is all about stamina so he's worthy of respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

(1)

13th Sep 2023

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 2

20:45 Southwell (AW)

Regal Empire

8st 9lb

J: Josephine Gordon

T: James Tate

Ran well in Racing League event at Yarmouth (1m2f) in July, then rallied tenaciously to land the Shergar Cup Classic at Ascot (1m4f) last month; 2-3 at Southwell early this year and commands respect back here; this 3yo colt is open to further improvement.

5/1

1st

4

(6)

12th Aug 2023

Soft

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

15:55 Ascot

Regal Empire

9st 12lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: James Tate

Both wins on Southwell's Tapeta but he has achieved better RPRs on turf since, posting another solid effort when third (Like A Tiger fifth) in a Racing League handicap at Yarmouth (1m2f, good to soft) 16 days ago; steps back up in trip now.

13/2

3rd

9

(3)

27th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

1m 2f 23y

Class 2

20:30 Yarmouth

Regal Empire

8st 3lb

J: Josephine Gordon

T: James Tate

First four runs were on Tapeta this January/February, winning 1m novice and 1m3f handicap; good 4l second to Like A Tiger in handicap at Newmarket (1m2f Rowley Course, good to soft) on turf debut in April; not disgraced in Lingfield Derby Trial (run on AW this year) next time and made a solid return to turf when third of ten on the July Course at Newmarket (good to firm) 27 days ago; each-way claims.

9/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 313-12

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Wolverhampton novice winner (9.5f, Tapeta) in December and landed a four-runner handicap at Lingfield (1m2f, Polytrack) last month, but couldn't confirm form with the third horse when just failing to last home back at Wolverhampton (1m4f) 16 days later; up another 3lb, but the return to this intermediate trip may suit him and he's high on the list; stable also runs Regal Empire.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(1)

25th Aug 2023

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

16:25 Newmarket (July)

Mighty River

9st 8lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: James Tate

C&D winner (good; 4lb higher today) in June; not so hot back here on good to firm next time, albeit in a better race, and although he wasn't beaten far at Chelmsford (AW) on latest start, that was in only seventh of 11; faces fewer rivals this time but not top of the list.

9/1

7th

9

(10)

15th Aug 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

18:45 Chelmsford (AW)

Mighty River

9st 5lb

J: Neil Callan

T: James Tate

Successful at Wolverhampton (9.5f, Tapeta) and Lingfield (1m2f, Polytrack) last winter and added another win at Newmarket (1m2f, good) in June; not so good back there last time, albeit in a better race, and others are higher up the list.

8/1

9th

9

(3)

14th Jul 2023

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 2

13:50 Newmarket (July)

Mighty River

8st 13lb

J: Neil Callan

T: James Tate

Ten races and usually seriously involved, this season's exception on soft ground; best efforts came in 1m2f handicaps on good ground under Neil Callan at Newmarket on last two starts, the latter a C&D win since which the second and fourth have both won; not harshly treated with 4lb rise.

10/1

Form: 11

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Both starts in 1m4f Polytrack novices, impressing on last month's Kempton debut but making harder work of it when landing a three-runner event at Lingfield last time; return to a more galloping track should suit on handicap/Tapeta debut and he remains open to a deal of improvement; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

13

(11)

18th Oct 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 4

20:00 Kempton (AW)

French Invasion

9st 4lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Charlie Johnston

in touch with leaders early, led after 2f, headed and prominent after 4f

16/1

8th

7

(2)

23rd Sep 2023

Good To Soft

1m 3f 188y

Class 4

17:30 York

French Invasion

9st 5lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Charlie Johnston

Couple of AW novice wins early in year; has shown he's effective on turf with creditable efforts at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm) and Haydock (1m6f, good) the last twice; could go well again.

8/1

4th

7

(2)

9th Sep 2023

Good

1m 6f 1y

Class 2

14:25 Haydock

French Invasion

8st 3lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Charlie Johnston

Two-time AW novice winner who returned to form when second at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm) recently; this is tougher but he hung last time so could be better suited by this flat track, and his pedigree provides hope he'll improve for the step up in trip; no surprise to see another good run.

14/1

Form: 4307-6

Last run: 36 days

W: 8st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Promise in his first two starts last year, but not built on it since albeit the race wasn't run to suit at Wolverhampton (9.5f, Tapeta) last month; shapes as though he will stay this far (stamina in his pedigree), but plenty more will be needed against five previous winners.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

24th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

14:52 Uttoxeter

Corsican Caper

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Kevin Frost

Lots of Flat racing and lowly rated these days; hadn't shown much over hurdles but kept finding to finish a 5.5l third over 2m4f here 22 days ago on his handicap debut, and this longer trip looks the obvious move.

100/30

3rd

11

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

15:50 Uttoxeter

Corsican Caper

10st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Kevin Frost

Lowly rated these days on the Flat and has shown little in three runs over hurdles; makes handicap hurdle debut up in trip and needs to show significant improvement.

14/1

4th

3

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:32 Taunton

Corsican Caper

11st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Kevin Frost

A fair 1m6f Flat winner; built on his hurdling debut seventh when third of four in 2m Doncaster novice 27 days ago but this demands considerably more.

12/1

Form: 574-16

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Made it fourth-time lucky in a Lingfield novice (1m, Polytrack) last month, but his progress stalled when last of six on handicap debut at Wolverhampton (8.6f, Tapeta) three weeks ago; he is better than that but it does leave him with something to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

(16)

20th Sep 2024

Standard

1m 2f 150y

19:30 Dundalk (AW)

Star Of Mayo

9st 10lb

J: W J Lee

T: E McNamara

Lingfield AW winner over a mile in 2023; lost his form afterwards; mostly over hurdles for this yard; others preferred; cheekpieces.

28/1

9th

5

(4)

17th Jul 2024

Good

1m 3f 103y

19:20 Killarney

Star Of Mayo

9st 11lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: E McNamara

Winner in Britain for Andrew Balding; no show in four starts in maiden hurdles for his current trainer; best watched.

12/1

13th

11

5th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 190y

16:30 Cork

Star Of Mayo

11st 7lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: E McNamara

AW Flat winner but well beaten in three maiden hurdles and best wait for handicaps.

28/1

OUR TIP

Form: 742-1

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Having been gelded he made a successful return from four months off on AW debut at Wolverhampton (1m4f, Tapeta; first-time blinkers) this month; not sure how strong the form is, though, with the other joint-favourite running poorly; probably needs to progress again in order to figure on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

25th Jun 2024

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

15:00 Newton Abbot

Ramensky

11st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

raced in second, left in lead 4th, joined 5th, ridden before 2 out, faced challenge run-in, kept on well

7/4

1st

6

13th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

14:00 Hereford

Ramensky

10st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

Changed hands after winning Flat seller for William Haggas last summer (1m3f, soft; RPR 79); just a respectable fourth in uncompetitive Plumpton maiden (2m, good) on last month's stable/hurdle debut and needs that outing to have brought him on significantly.

7/1

1st

6

13th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

14:00 Hereford

Ramensky

10st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

Changed hands after winning Flat seller for William Haggas last summer (1m3f, soft; RPR 79); just a respectable fourth in uncompetitive Plumpton maiden (2m, good) on last month's stable/hurdle debut and needs that outing to have brought him on significantly.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.20
Straight Forecast £15.30
Trifecta £51.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Mighty River

POSTDATA:

Ramensky

The Times:

Regal Empire

Telegraph:

French Invasion

RP Ratings:

Mighty River

TOPSPEED:

Mighty River

The Guardian:

Mighty River

Daily Mail:

Mighty River

The Sun:

Mighty River

NEWMARKET:

Ramensky

D Express:

Ramensky

Daily Mirror:

Ramensky

The Star:

Ramensky

Daily Record:

Ramensky