3:50 Southwell Tips

Roaring Ralph is a gelding whose better recent efforts have come over this sort of trip on the all-weather, including a Southwell run where he moved smoothly into contention and finished strongly without everything going his way. He tends to do his best work when allowed to build into the contest rather than being rushed early. With conditions again in his favour, there are sound reasons to expect him to be competitive and in the mix late on.

Running well the last two outings since stepping up to this mile trip. Runner-up over course and distance in both. Looks poised to strike, and with four places on offer looks good each-way value.

This horse won by a short head on her penultimate start, which was the only other time this jockey had ridden her before. The pair were clear of the third, and this one won on the nod despite the jockey dropping his whip. It could therefore have been more decisive had he not dropped his whip, and this 2 lb higher mark shouldn't be enough to stop her going very close here.

A 12 race maiden comes with caution but she has been placed 6 times, most recently when runner-up over this trip at Lingfield last week. Remains on the same mark and every chance to get that elusive first win here.

Tim Easterby's horses have been running well for the last month or so, and his Law Degree, whose last win came over today's mile trip at Ripon in 2024, did so off an eleven lb higher mark. He can take this off a career-low mark of 52.

The Lawrence Mullaney yard won this last year, and I will take a chance that their representative Sharshot goes close to doubling up. Having their first run of the season today, he ended last year with a decent 3rd of 8 at Newcastle, running on at the finish, so the step up in trip to a mile should suit. Will be held up to bounce late and will be staying on while others are going backwards. Has been consistent of late without winning, and another decent run is surely on the cards. NB

At seven years old, this mare boasts three wins and several placings from about 30 starts. She is typically competitive in Classified Stakes and lower-level handicaps, having recently finished sixth at Wolverhampton last month. She is aptly characterized as a workmanlike horse capable of winning or placing in the appropriate grade, and at odds of 28/1 each-way, she presents excellent value if she can deliver her best performance.

At 40/1 Sovereign Class looks interesting. She has disappointed of late, but as a result her handicap mark has fallen to 52. Last spring her mark was in the 60s. She returns to running over a mile today, which she has not run over since the summer. I'm hoping this return to a mile brings about a better run, and hopefully she enjoys racing at Southwell for the first time. At 40/1 it looks worth a small bet.