6:00 Southwell Tips

This horse is yet to win since winning his first 3 career starts when trained by Roger Varian, including over a mile here off a mark of 89. He's tumbled down the weights since and has shown very little since joining this yard in November. However, the drop to 7f over today's CD last time out saw him return to some form, finishing 3rd, only beaten a length by a horse who's 2-2 since that win. Connections have gone to the trouble of getting top course jockey Jason Hart to ride so I think a big run is expected off an unchanged mark of 69.

If you watch a replay of this horse's first-ever run over C&D last time out, it looks fairly obvious that the penny has finally dropped. He was picking off horses with ease once the front two had flown. He has been dropped a pound for that fourth-placed effort, and I can certainly see him staying on into the places at the end of this race, where that seemingly improved attitude last time out can be built upon.

ELECTRIC AVENUE has been tried over eight and nine furlongs the last few times, so is considered back at seven furlongs here. Looks potentially well handicapped and has stronger claims than some at shorter prices, so perhaps we've got some value here. Looks like the front-runner, which can pay dividends here at Southwell.

Mereside Madness last won in July last year off a 70, and the last win on the AW was at Newcastle in Feb last year off a 66, which I think makes today's 67 look attractive. Although he ran a bit duff for a new yard on his return last month, he could have needed the run and I expect more now second up EW.