There is rain forecast for Southwell today and the concern is that the racecourse executive have watered in advance of the meeting which might produce some false ground. If the ground is no worse than good to soft it is hard to look beyond the penalised Midnight Request (2.10) in the opener for the inform Nigel Hawke.
The selection won at Exeter last week on ground quicker than the official description of good to soft and the excellent Tom Scudamore keeps the ride; if over his Exeter exertions he will be hard to beat.
Moonlight Maggie (2.40) remains a maiden after 15 career starts but she won't have many better opportunities to get off the mark although she is another who wouldn't appreciate any further significant rain. The selection is returning from a short break and jockey Paddy Brennan didn't give her too hard a race when beaten 10l at Taunton last time on ground softer than ideal.
Nomadic Storm is likely to be all the rage for the 2m 4f Handicap Chase but the winning point-to-pointer Worthy Award (3.10) makes his handicap debut on his chase debut under rules and AP McCoy takes over for the first time. The selection returns from a five-month break and could be very well treated although the market may indicate if he is ready to do himself justice on his return. Royal Macnab caught a tartar at Catterick last time and is another to consider in a competitive little event.
In the conditional jockey's handicap hurdle the juvenile Blue Talisman (4.55) should appreciate stepping up in trip on better ground for the father and son partnership of Peter and Sean Bowen. A winner over 1m 6f on the flat when trained by Tim Easterby the 4-y-old was sold for a song (£2k) back in January and was tailed off on his first start for the yard; he is fitted with both cheek-pieces and a tongue tie this afternoon.
At Hexham Apache Pilot (3.35) did at Newcastle last time what he had been threatening to do all season and that was to get his head in front and he has only been raised 5lbs for that success. That success came after a three month break and was only 10 days ago but he is the youngest in the field and might be open to further improvement.
Brother Scott (4.45) has never won over fences but finished runner up three times on the spin back in the autumn and if freshened up can score for Sue Smith's yard. Bescott Springs goes well around Hexham and is dropping to a decent mark but Brother Scott was in the process of going very close over C&D back in October until unseating Calum Bewley three out and looks sure to run well.
Significant rain wouldn't suit Palm Grey (same connections as Brother Scott) in the handicap hurdle but he looks sure to appreciate the step back up in trip having finished runner up at Newcastle last time over the minimum trip off a mark 1lb lower than this afternoon's.
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