5.45 Southwell – Who’s Glen (Win)
It’s a tricky race to kick off the final leg of the Racing League, but Who’s Glen looks like a horse who’s about to take off. He ran well on his handicap debut in the Racing League meeting at Newcastle last week, staying on to finish fourth. The son of Gleneagles is able to race off the same mark of 77, and he gets the three-year-old weight-for-age allowance, which can make a big difference. Moreover, he’s got a good pedigree, especially with his dam, who improved into a Group performer in time, so it’s likely he could go on to better things next season. With Oisin Murphy booked for the ride, I can see him going close.
6.14 Southwell – Brunel Nation EW
Brunel Nation is a horse who had a good season. We saw it putting up a fair effort to finish second at the Racing League in Chepstow earlier this month. All of his runs this summer come on the turf, but if you look at his all-weather record, then you’ll see he was quite progressive on it earlier this year. He is 3lb higher than his last winning mark, but I still think he has the scope to improve on it, and I can see him hitting the frame again with a good draw in Stall 5.
6.43 Southwell – Havana Run EW
Several of these runners have clashed heads a few times this summer, but Havana Run has probably not had his rub of the green, and I think it could be his turn here. The four-year-old was unlucky when he finished fifth in the Racing League at Wolverhampton earlier this month, as he didn’t get a clear run and he ran on strongly. However, last time he got more of a break and finished a close second at Chepstow, behind a well-handicapped horse. That run came on the turf, and I think switching to the all-weather could bring out some improvement in him.
7.12 Southwell – Solent Gateway EW
I wasn’t overly keen on the horses towards the top end of the market, so I have decided to take a swing with Solent Gateway. He’s a horse who has been around for a while, and it’s fair to say he’s gone off the boil a little bit this season. However, last time out there were signs of a revival as he finished second in a good race at Nottingham, behind a progressive filly. He’s likely to be up with the pace, and if Alistair Rawlinson can get him into a good position, then he might not be too far away.
7.41 Southwell – Londoner EW
Jim Goldie is a wiley old trainer, and his representative Londoner could be about to strike. This horse was previously trained by Aidan O’Brien, and he hadn’t shown too much since Jim Goldie until last week at Newcastle, where he flew home to finish fourth from an unpromising position.
8.10 Southwell – Mighty Nebula EW
Mighty Nebula had excuses last time out when he finished fourth at Wolverhampton. The four-year-old gelding was slowly away from the gates that day, and he did well to make up a lot of late ground. Usually he’s a horse who breaks well, so if he can get on terms here, he should be dangerous. Most of his best form seems to come on the all-weather, and he’s a horse who could step up now tackling this longer 1m3f trip. This is a trappy race, but I think he’s worth a go each way.
8.40 Southwell – The Caltonian EW
This looks like the hardest race to solve on the card, as there are many that look to have a chance. I’ve landed on The Caltonian for Linda Perrett, who ran a good race last time to finish third at Newcastle over 6f. I think the drop-back in trip to 5f could suit, and there looks to be a lot of pace in and around to help him get into the race. He’s not the easiest to win with, but he seems to save his best form for the all-weather.
