January 31 / 18.00 Southwell (AW)

18.00

Standard

Gamble Responsibly At BetUK Handicap (GBB Plus Race)

  • Prize money: £4972.3
  • 1m 6f 21y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Gamble Responsibly At BetUK Handicap (GBB Plus Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Partly cloudy

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 5057-2 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 10st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Hasn't won on Flat since 2021; however, went close here (1m3f) last week on third run for new stable and he's due to go back up 1lb in future; stays 1m6f and holds a fighting chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(3)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 188y

Class 4

17:40 York

Pleasant Man

9st 5lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Joey Ramsden

Ended a lengthy losing run when making all at Doncaster (1m4f, good to firm) last month but found out off 3lb higher at Yarmouth since, albeit another creditable effort.

14/1

3rd

1

(1)

2nd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 104y

Class 5

14:39 Yarmouth

Pleasant Man

10st 0lb

J: Alfie Redman

T: Joey Ramsden

Can lead; course winner who ended a lengthy losing run when making all at Doncaster (1m4f, good to firm) 12 days ago; a 3lb rise for that success still leaves him well treated on old form.

3/1

1st

3

(3)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 197y

Class 5

20:30 Doncaster

Pleasant Man

9st 6lb

J: David Nolan

T: Joey Ramsden

On a long losing run but he comes here in good nick, third of 11 in 9.5f Wolverhampton handicap four days ago; his best recent form is on the AW though.

7/1

OUR TIP

7/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 4598-2

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Record of 4-13 on AW, the most recent win last July; ended his 2024 campaign on a low note but rebounded with close second at Kempton (2m) on reappearance; likely player off same mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(4)

9th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 179y

Class 5

15:34 Leicester

Robusto

10st 0lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Won at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW) in April and close third at Chester (1m4f, good) four weeks ago; this 6yo could give another good account but is taking on some unexposed 3yos and may well be vulnerable.

13/2

3rd

7

(3)

11th Jul 2026

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 5

17:00 Chester

Robusto

8st 13lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Has a much better strike-rate on AW than on grass; soundly beaten off his lower turf mark returned to this sphere last time; opposed.

25/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 211-41 CD

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Held on by half a length in Class 5 contest over C&D last Friday, making it three wins from last four starts; incurs 4lb penalty and goes back up in grade but warrants respect in current form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(2)

18th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 32y

Class 5

15:30 Carlisle

Swinging London

9st 4lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: John Mackie

Five wins on AW, including at Southwell (1m6f) last time; may remain competitive but looks by no means guaranteed to follow up, being 0-15 in Flat turf events; just 1-20 over hurdles.

6/1

1st

3

(2)

23rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 5

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Swinging London

9st 7lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: John Mackie

Dual C&D winner; beaten 2l when fourth of six here last month and he was unfortunate not to go even closer when fourth of 12 at Pontefract (1m4f, good to soft; short of room late on) 16 days ago; switches back to the AW with a good chance.

7/4

4th

3

(7)

7th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 5y

Class 5

16:27 Pontefract

Swinging London

9st 7lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: John Mackie

Returned to the Flat with respectable fourth of six at Southwell (1m4f, AW) last month but is still 3lb higher than for narrow AW win last autumn, and his Flat turf strike-rate is 0-14.

10/1

Form: 85/29-

Last run: 44 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Four-race maiden who showed clear promise at Newcastle (12.5f; back from lengthy layoff) then possibly bounced at Kempton later in December; rested 44 days since and may progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(8)

31st Jan 2025

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 4

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Sir Geoff Hurst

9st 10lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Charlie Johnston

towards rear, outpaced over 2f out, headway over 1f out, pressed leaders inside final 110yds, stayed on

12/1

5th
3 (2)
Nibiru

13/2

Form: 06141- C

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish veteran who scored here (2m) last month on second Flat start for new yard, taking AW record to 3-14; may remain competitive, having gone back up just 1lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(2)

31st Jan 2025

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 4

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Nibiru

10st 0lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: Jack Jones

Ex-Irish veteran who scored here (2m) last month on second Flat start for new yard, taking AW record to 3-14; may remain competitive, having gone back up just 1lb.

13/2

5th

3

(2)

31st Jan 2025

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 4

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Nibiru

10st 0lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: Jack Jones

in touch with leaders, outpaced over 2f out, switched right when rallying inside final 110yds, kept on

13/2

1st

1

(1)

20th Dec 2024

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 4

15:27 Southwell (AW)

Nibiru

10st 3lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: Jack Jones

Won a claimer at Dundalk (10.6f) in October and he stayed on well for fourth here (1m6f) on his stable debut the following month; has each-way claims on that form but this 9yo is not easy to predict and was well held back over hurdles last time; risks attached.

14/1

9/2

Form: 5621-3 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Campaigned mostly at Wolverhampton in this sphere but went very close in sole Southwell attempt; recent form includes a December win that took his record under Rossa Ryan to 3-4; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

(1)

17th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

20:10 Wolverhampton (AW)

Optician

10st 2lb

J: David Probert

T: Michael Herrington

All five AW wins have been at this track, four of which were over this trip; recorded his first turf success at Doncaster in June and has run well since, which augurs well for this return to AW.

5/1

2nd

1

(5)

29th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 1y

Class 5

15:15 Redcar

Optician

10st 2lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Michael Herrington

Off the mark on turf when beating five rivals at Doncaster (1m4f, good to soft) last month but he was beaten 8l when fifth of ten off this mark at York (1m4f, good to firm) 19 days ago; now drops back in trip.

4/1

5th

7

(4)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 188y

Class 4

17:40 York

Optician

9st 10lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Michael Herrington

Five-time AW winner who made it sixteenth time lucky on turf when seeing off five rivals over 1m4f at Doncaster (good to soft) under Conor Whiteley 26 days ago; 3lb higher in a deeper race now but the Michael Herrington stable continues in good form.

8/1

Form: 89265-

Last run: 238 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Modest efforts over hurdles for new stable; 0-5 on AW but finished second off 3lb higher over C&D on most recent attempt in this sphere; attractively handicapped.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(4)

6th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:08 Newmarket (July)

Educator

9st 13lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Henrietta C Knight

Eventually drew clear from two rivals at Yarmouth (1m6f, good to firm) last week, having taken a while to respond to Billy Loughnane's urgings; previously effective over 1m4f and, even with 4lb penalty, remains well treated on peak form.

13/8

Form: 65-233 C

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Has done all his winning at about 1m4f; ran respectably behind the chief form contenders at Newcastle last week; stamina to prove back up in distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(3)

4th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

17:45 Newcastle (AW)

Percy Willis

10st 1lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

All six wins have been on Tapeta, including three over C&D; well treated on his best form last year and he went close off this mark over C&D (Rubellite third) last Thursday; that was his second run after a break and he's a big player if he can repeat that form.

9/2

2nd

3

(7)

25th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

17:30 Newcastle (AW)

Percy Willis

10st 1lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Three C&D wins to his name; should be sharper for his recent return to action and he'll appreciate both dropping into Class 6 and returning to a longer trip; one to consider.

100/30

4th

8

(1)

8th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 42y

Class 5

16:39 Newcastle (AW)

Percy Willis

8st 13lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

2lb below last winning mark and although not seen in six months, has won after a similar absence; has run well in all four starts over C&D, but all six wins have come over 1m4f (three here) so he wouldn't want a dawdle over this trip.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £31.40
Straight Forecast £35.73
Tricast £101.55
Trifecta £123.50

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Optician

SPOTLIGHT:

Pleasant Man

Telegraph:

Swinging London

RP RATINGS:

Nibiru

The Guardian:

Robusto

D Express:

Optician

The Sun:

Optician

The Star:

Optician

Daily Mail:

Swinging London

Daily Record:

Swinging London

POSTDATA:

Pleasant Man

The Times:

Pleasant Man

Daily Mirror:

Pleasant Man

NEWMARKET:

Nibiru