March 12 / 19.00 Southwell (AW)

19.00

Standard

Always Gamble Responsibly With BetUK Handicap

  • Prize money: £4710.6
  • 1m 4f 14y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Always Gamble Responsibly With BetUK Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Cloudy

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.20
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 5656-2 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 5yo who was returning from six months off and having his first start since being gelded when beaten a neck at Wolverhampton (1m4f, Tapeta) 15 days ago; up 2lb but still a major player if taking a step forward.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(7)

30th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 4

17:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Melek Alreeh

9st 11lb

J: Luke Morris

T: David Simcock

Triple 1m4f winner, including on Tapeta; handicapper has just had his measure since his last win but he's gone very close several times, the latest at Chelmsford (1m2f, Polytrack); up 1lb; respected.

13/2

6th

3

(2)

23rd Sep 2025

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 4

20:00 Southwell (AW)

Melek Alreeh

9st 6lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: David Simcock

Currently 2-2 round here, both over 1m4f; proved consistent during a limited campaign this year, following wind surgery, bar a forgivable blip in a race that didn't pan out his way latest; a player if stamina holds now going beyond 1m4f for the first time.

7/1

7/4

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 81-111 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
0-12 on turf for Tim Easterby but 4-4 on the AW since joining this yard with a tongue-tie enlisted, all over 1m4f at Wolverhampton and none by more than half a length; up another 5lb, but still has to be feared if as effective here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

8

(12)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 4

17:15 Thirsk

Optician

8st 12lb

J: David Probert

T: Michael Herrington

0-14 on turf (5-19 on AW) but he ran well when he last tackled grass in summer 2024; returned from some time off with promising fourth at Southwell (1m3f, AW) last month and can be in the mix if building on that effort.

12/1

4th

1

(5)

11th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 5

17:15 Southwell (AW)

Optician

9st 9lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: Michael Herrington

Five-time Wolverhampton winner for Shaun Lycett, all off lower marks; pulled up here last September, having clipped heels on his first run in five months and for this yard, and has been absent since; this trip a bare minimum now.

16/1

10

(6)

23rd Sep 2025

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 4

20:00 Southwell (AW)

Optician

8st 13lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Michael Herrington

Five Wolverhampton wins to his name for Shaun Lycett, all during the winter months, and never off a mark this high; has gone well here too but possible he'll need this for his new yard after five months off.

12/1

OUR TIP

5/1

Form: 146-87 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 10lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Newcastle winner (1m2f, Tapeta) in the summer of 2022 who has finished unplaced in four starts since returned to the AW in November, but she is back off her last winning mark and has won over this far on turf, so possible to make a case.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(8)

17th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 4

16:52 Southwell (AW)

Real Terms

9st 13lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Grant Tuer

On workable mark if judged on pick of form from first half of last year but returned from break with disappointing run in the autumn and has been absent for another 285 days since.

14/1

8th

6

(6)

5th Nov 2024

Soft

1m 2f 1y

Class 3

14:00 Redcar

Real Terms

9st 1lb

J: Sam James

T: Grant Tuer

Has won on good to soft; losing turf run goes back more than a year but she ran up to her recent best when second of 14 at Hamilton (1m3f, good) in June; needs to be on song to win off this mark back from break.

10/1

Form: 00-907 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Five wins at around this trip on the AW early last year, but modest since returning in November despite a falling mark; cheekpieces (used once in the summer of 2022) make a return, but still best watched for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(7)

15th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 6

20:10 Kempton (AW)

Buxted Too

9st 11lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Ian Williams

Hard to recommend on recent efforts, but has dropped 7lb lower than when gaining his second C&D success back in February; worth a second look with a visor given a try, especially if attracting support.

9/1

10th

8

(6)

26th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

17:40 Haydock

Buxted Too

9st 2lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Ian Williams

Won at Kempton (1m4f, AW) in February but he's not fired in three starts since July and seems out of sorts at present; only of interest with market support.

25/1

5

(9)

5th Sep 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

13:32 Haydock

Buxted Too

9st 8lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: Ian Williams

This year's win was on Polytrack at Kempton (1m4f) in February and he's 2lb lower today, having gone off the boil in his two runs this summer; has never won beyond 1m4f and he last ran on ground softer than good in 2021.

20/1

Form: 58-530 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Probably found the stiffer company more of an issue than the trip when well held here (16.5f) last time; ran well to finish third of nine over C&D the time before, but losing run is up to 16 and others make greater appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

15:40 Doncaster

Animato

11st 6lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Had plenty of Flat racing and won five times; 0-6 as a hurdler and after his fourth to The Resdev Tyke on Boxing Day he ran no race at Sedgefield; others preferred.

16/1

7th

1

4th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

14:42 Sedgefield

Animato

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Five-time Flat winner who is 0-5 over hurdles but ran pretty well when fourth of 11 at Wetherby (2m, soft) on Boxing Day on his first handicap start in this code; today's extra yardage looks a plus and he's in with a chance.

11/2

5th

1

27th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 3

15:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Animato

11st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Five-time Flat winner who has taken quite well to hurdling in recent weeks, finishing fourth at Worcester (2m, good to soft) and Kelso (2m, good); may have to settle for another minor prize here, though.

8/1

20/1

Form: 11718- D

Last run: 115 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Wolverhampton winner (8.6f, Tapeta) for Mark Usher early last year after which she scored five times on turf in France; nothing since debuting for this yard in November and returns to the Flat after three moderate efforts over hurdles, since when she has undergone wind surgery; little appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(2)

11th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 179y

Class 6

15:30 Leicester

Rebel Angel

10st 0lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: David Pipe

in rear

14/1

5th

3

(2)

18th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:10 Chepstow

Rebel Angel

9st 9lb

J: Laura Pearson

T: David Pipe

Retains some ability but consistency isn't her forte; drops in trip and she holds each-way claims at a track she's run well at before.

10/1

Form: 4-24

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
In the frame in three Polytrack novices over 1m2f-1m4f during the winter since when he has been gelded; nicely bred and not a surprise if he shows even more now contesting a handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(3)

16th Oct 2025

Good

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

16:05 Brighton

Birthday Angel

9st 6lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Lydia Richards

Opened his account in similar event over C&D (good to soft) last week, scoring comfortably and taking well to Brighton at the first attempt; 5lb penalty puts him on future mark; respected.

7/2

5

(9)

7th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

16:15 Brighton

Birthday Angel

9st 8lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Lydia Richards

16-race maiden; fared no better than fourth in 2025, hanging left-handed under pressure at Lingfield (1m2f, AW) a fortnight ago; others appear to have more to offer.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.30
Straight Forecast £6.86
Trifecta £27.50

Selections

The Guardian:

Optician

SPOTLIGHT:

Melek Alreeh

LAMBOURN:

Birthday Angel

POSTDATA:

Animato

TOPSPEED:

Real Terms

RP RATINGS:

Melek Alreeh

NEWMARKET:

Melek Alreeh

The Times:

Melek Alreeh

Daily Mail:

Optician

D Express:

Optician

Daily Mirror:

Optician

The Sun:

Optician

The Star:

Optician

Daily Record:

Optician

Telegraph:

Birthday Angel