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17:20 Southwell
Just the six runners will go to post for this handicap chase and it’s likely that Capricia will go off favourite wearing a first time visor. She is a maiden in thirteen starts though so isn’t the most obvious choice here, she was travelling okay to a point when she fell last time out but she was by no means certain to break her duck there and so she comes with risks attached.
Ar Mest is another who is looking for his first win over fences and has quite frustratingly finished second on many occasions. It’s his first time trying a distance this far and he’s far from certain to want this trip. If they go any sort of gallop, I can’t see him lasting home best over this trip.
Steady The Ship would be my strong selection for this contest. He was very good over this course and distance on his chase debut last time out and looked like plenty more improvement would be possible if he managed to cut out a few of his novicey errors. He sees the trip out really well, it looks like Southwell suits really well and he should provide another winner for the Jonjo O’Neill team.
STEADY THE SHIP (WIN)
17:50 Southwell
Rocky’s Treasure has been quite a stalwart for the Kim Bailey yard and in his best form, he would hold every chance here. There is a suspicion though that he likes at least a little give in the ground these days though and he is passed over today despite producing a better effort at Uttoxeter last time out.
Percussion won very well here at Southwell just over two weeks ago and he did that very well that day. He now races off a career high mark following that success and this fairly lightly raced 7yo will need his best run to date to defy this mark. Improvement is possible though and it will be interesting to see how he gets on but he is best watched at his projected odds.
Roque It represents Paul Nicholls here and looks a very strong contender on paper. He was super impressive when winning at Taunton last year but then failed to kick on when more was expected of him. The yard was a little out of form at that time too so maybe that would explain a little but he produced a much better effort here at Southwell and it’s telling that Paul Nicholls sends him here again today. He’s almost down to that Taunton winning mark now and he is very overpriced for me and he’s my selection here.
ROQUE IT (WIN)
written by Tom Bates