Tom Segal takes on hot favourite in opening leg of Southwell Placepot

Being able to handle the deep Fibresand has always been the key to finding winners at Southwell and so the best way to approach the Placepot is to stick with horses with course form.

That is pretty thin on the ground in the opening handicap (12.50) and the hot favourite Nortonthorpe Boy has never run at the track and finished stone last on his two runs on easier ground on turf. Consequently, he has a bit to prove under a penalty and there might be an edge in leaving him out.

The two with course form worth including are Swinton Noon, who has won his last two at Southwell and Silver Nemo, who could improve for the step up in trip.

Recent course-and-distance winner Ravenscar will be popular in the 2m½f handicap (1.20), but she's on her highest ever mark and Sea Of Mystery is a lot better than he showed last time. The in-form hurdler Gold Desert is worth including too.

At first glance, the Bombardier British Hopped Amber Beer Handicap (1.50) looks the trickiest race on the card, but Al Suil Eile has dropped back to a winning mark and shaped as if he was running into his form over 6f here last time.

Drew Breeze has a tough day on his hands because he's got the small matter of an NFL play-off game against the Chicago Bears, but his equine namesake was impressive at the track last time and looks sure to go well gain in the Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap (2.20). Life Knowledge is a risky proposition because he can be slowly away but he's handicapped to win if he gets out on terms and should also be included in the same race.

Action Hero is worth banking on in the maiden (3.20), as is Palazzo in the mile handicap (2.50). Palazzo always runs his race at the track and remains on a fair mark.

Southwell Placepot perm

12.50
3 Swinton Noon
5 Silver Nemo

1.20
3 Gold Desert
5 Sea Of Mystery

1.50
7 Al Suil Eile

2.20
4 Drew Breeze
8 Life Knowledge

2.50
6 Palazzo

3.20
5 Action Hero

2x2x1x2x1x1=8 lines

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