The most high-profile horse in the UK comes under the spotlight for his Flat racing debut in a prep for the Cheltenham Festival.
JASON WEAVER’S Southwell TIPS
16:58 – Pearly Squirrel (each-way)
17:30 – Something
18:00 – Cargin Bhui
18:30 – Betsen
19:30 – Constitution Hill
20:30 – I Still Have Faith
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Pearly Squirrel is looking to break her duck on a synthetic surface and she’s also on a bit of a bounce-back effort after a poor run last time at Wolverhampton, where she clearly failed to stay the trip. It’s only her second try at this venue and she looks to be running over her ideal distance with the excellent David Egan taking over in the saddle.
Something enjoyed the drop to this grade last time when running an excellent race at Kempton. He finished off very strongly and prior to that, he had dipped his toe into much tougher company and didn’t run too badly either. Stuart Williams is building a good relationship with the young apprentice Jack Dace, who also claims 5lb, and the combination look to go well yet again.
Some punters may be put off by a 6lb rise in the handicap after Cargin Bhui’s very easy success at Wolverhampton last time. If we go back a little he has already produced some very strong form from a perch of 80. He looks sure to go well from a very attractive looking mark of 70.
Betsen popped up at a whopping 40/1 on his debut for the current champion all-weather trainer Tony Carroll. He’s continued to run well subsequently despite not going with quite the same spark as he had done at this venue. The fact that he’s just 1lb higher than that win – with a mark of 85 – makes him an attractive proposition.
It looks like Constitution Hill is going to go off a very healthy price as a few lively contenders have lined up to take on the former Champion Hurdler. Hopefully he can dazzle on his Flat debut as the reports from home are he retains so much speed that they struggle to get anything to go with him. I might be bold and back him to win by two or three lengths!
I Still Have Faith did himself no favours on his debut for the Stuart Williams yard when pulling far too hard throughout the early stages of the mile contest at Kempton. He’s back down to what could prove to be his optimum distance for the excellent Williams, who has made a habit of winning with other people’s castoffs throughout the current winter campaign. He will be held up and played very late.
JASON WEAVER’S Southwell TIPS
16:58 – Pearly Squirrel (each-way)
17:30 – Something
18:00 – Cargin Bhui
18:30 – Betsen
19:30 – Constitution Hill
20:30 – I Still Have Faith
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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