'She's thriving on her racing' - key trainer quotes for Southwell's feature

Tuesday: 7.00 Southwell
BetUK Over 40,000 Live Streamed Races Handicap | 5f | 4yo+ | Sky

Trainer Dave Loughnane and owner David Lowe combined with classy mare Caroline Dale to capture this 5f handicap last season and they are responsible for a similar type now in Kim Wexler.

Caroline Dale was placed in the Queen Mary as a juvenile, but Kim Wexler has taken longer to come to hand. She recorded a career-best performance on Racing Post Ratings on her 20th start last month and built on that in three subsequent outings.

Man-of-the-moment Billy Loughnane, who has ridden 11 winners in the past fortnight at a 23 per cent strike-rate, is quickly establishing himself as a go-to conditional. He takes the ride and his 5lb claim negates the 5lb penalty Kim Wexler must defy after her course-and-distance success a week ago.

Whether she can back that up is the question. David Loughnane is just 5-62 with horses returning within seven days of a victory and Kim Wexler, who loves to front-run, will face competition for the lead from Vespasian and quite possibly May Sonic, Murbih and Strong Johnson.

Hiya Maite also likes to be handy and Tolstoy, the sole hold-up performer in the field, will have the race run to suit.

It is worth forgiving Tolstoy's last-time-out seventh at Lingfield as he was forced about seven wide round the home turn and surrendered his chance there and then.

Tolstoy shaped well over this course and distance in a Class 2 contest on New Year's Day when chasing home the in-form Alligator Alley into a never-nearer third, making strong late headway from the rear.

The son of Kingman now tackles Class 3 company and has dropped to a mark 6lb below his previous winning one. There is plenty to like.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Stuart Williams, trainer of Tolstoy
He ran a nice race at the track two starts ago. He was drawn wide at Lingfield and ran even wider off the bend, which didn't suit him. I'm hoping he might bounce back. He's got talent, he's a quirky character but he'll get there one day.

Simon Crisford, joint-trainer of Vespasian
He's been running consistently and showed plenty of pace, so we're going to try dropping to five furlongs for the first time. He's in good form and the plan is to keep him going on the all-weather.

Roy Bowring, trainer of Hiya Maite
He's been very consistent, both when we tried a tongue-tie and without. He's in good form and I'm hoping he'll run well.

Dave Loughnane, trainer of Kim Wexler
She's in great form and is thriving on her racing. It's a big step up in grade and she's out of the handicap with a 5lb penalty, but Billy Loughnane has ridden more winners than anyone on the Flat this year and takes 5lb off.
Reporting by Maddy Playle

Sign up here. Place a minimum £10 bet on the Sportsbook at odds of minimum 1/2 (1.5) and get £30 in free bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators that our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing.