7:30 Southwell Tips

Bounced back to form at Nottingham (6f 18yds) on Good to Soft Ground in a competitive Class 2 Handicap earlier this month when finishing a cracking head 2nd of 14 to 'Jenever' and could be very hard to beat despite going up 3lb. The return to an artificial surface could be right up his street with Marco Ghiani again on board.

Very consistent sort who won last time out. Rossa Ryan is in fine form and has ridden a winner here tonight. The one to beat.

My selection for this race is LIOSA , a consistent 5-y-o bay gelding from the Stuart Kittow yard who is primed for these conditions. He’s drawn well in 4 and looks fairly treated off his mark (OR 76) , having placed off it in his last two starts. His course record (1 win, 1 place from 2 starts) and strong Tapeta form (2 wins, 3 places from 7 starts) are ideal. The 6f distance is perfect and he is proven at this Class 4 level. With solid recent form and Joe Leavy booked, everything is in place for a big run.

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Lesleys Boy has not won on the AW yet but was only 2L away when fourth here last month for his first AW run this year. With a drop of 1 lb today while on a 71, his C5 handicap debut win in August last year was off a 77. He ended that term in October with a close third in C4 off an 84, just missing out by a neck. He gets Oisin Orr back on top, who was in charge for the two turf wins so far.

Not disgraced when 6th last time and has a record of almost 50% on this surface and should go well. Dropping down in class should help and is a pound below last winning mark.

Amazed to see 8/1 for ARABAT. I envisaged 4/1. He's up two pounds for winning here last month. Despite the raise, he's still well handicapped on old form. Fair draw, proven at the track and on Tapeta.

Raced here three times in the first runs of career, finishing 2nd on debut and winning consecutively afterwards. 3rd at Doncaster back in August, but drops a pound here and return to ground could do the trick.

Top Juggler made a very good impression when winning for his new yard in September, but then flopped out on soft ground in the Ayr Bronze Cup. That can be ignored, and he was third at this venue on his career second start, so could make amends tonight. Pal's Battalion is also fancied off a much-reduced handicap mark.