Southwell - Sunday 16th August 2026
Astrological should be a key player if coping with a 6lb rise for his Windsor success, while Domination and Yaa Min are consistent types to also monitor in the betting market. The top of the shortlist, however, is reserved for WONDER, who seems to reserve his best for racing at this venue and this previous C&D winner may be able to stamp his authority in a race where previous Southwell winners are thin on the ground.
BARLEYBROWN has been sent off as the favourite for his last two starts and is suggested as a prime contender in a weak event. Although he reportedly bled from the nose after his latest start, the Ruth Carr-trained gelding is too attractively weighted to overlook and must have a live chance off 6lb below his last winning mark. Ribston Pippin, Timebar and Mercurius Power are suggested as others to bear in mind if the market goes against the selection.
PALLADAS clocked fast fractions in the closing stages on his winning debut at Kempton and the son of Lope De Vega may well prove to be above average. He is hard to ignore, despite a 200-day absence. Star Of The Desert has shown enough to suggest that he can pick up a race before long and also merits respect. However, the well-bred Assiri Heights, who cost 700,000gns as a yearling, is surely better than he showed on debut and may be a bigger danger to the selection.
PROSPERITY made a winning debut over this trip at Ripon last month, despite showing signs of inexperience. She should be a lot wiser for that experience and Karl Burke's filly is taken to defy a penalty and go in again. The Night Of Thunder newcomer Al Jolson cost 260,000gns as a yearling and could prove competitive with the Crisfords' yard in top form, while both Peaceful Spirit and Savile Row are worth noting on their stable/seasonal debuts.
Great Dream has a 12lb hike in the weights to contend with after scoring easily at Ffos Las in first-time cheekpieces. He still makes more appeal than Legal Reform, whose C&D success came back in March, but a chance is taken on SOVEREIGN OCEAN in an open affair. The latter was having only his second start of the year when picked off late at Chester in June and Marco Botti's unexposed three-year-old has scope for considerable improvement.
Persian Gate is related to a couple of winning sprinters and any significant support in the market should be noted. Storm Force has been gelded since his third at Hamilton in May and is another to note, but SPACE PARTY looks the safest option. An encouraging third at Doncaster on debut, Henry Candy's inmate missed out by less than a length when runner-up at Windsor on his latest start and the winner has subsequently gone in again to give that form a solid look.
Having finished between two useful sorts on his second-placed debut at Leicester, a breakthrough victory may await for YORDAN. That experience should do Kevin Ryan's inmate the world of good and he gets the vote over Black Orchid. The daughter of Ardad has filled the runner-up spot on both outings and may have to play second fiddle once more, while Cosmic Girl may enjoy this drop in distance.
Massimo Blue was knocking on the door when with previous connections and a change of scenery could bring about some improvement on his stable bow. Dylan Cunha's charge isn't taken lightly, but TOPTIME is slightly more appealing reverting to 6f. The veteran arrives on the back of a close-up third over 5f at Beverley and Joe Bradnam's 3lb allowance may prove invaluable. On Key and Blackjack are others of note in their current vein of form.
An interesting little heat where all four can be given a chance. Mayfair is very well treated and her first run this season gives her a chance. Last year's one-two Jeewan and Mdawi are back and, on this season's form, those placings may be reversed, although given the former might get a soft lead, that can't be guaranteed. The pick to give weight all round is ASHJ'AA, who is in much deeper waters than on his debut but is open to a bit more improvement than his three rivals.
ASTROLOGICAL has made a bright start to his career, winning two of his four starts and having not finished outside the top three on the other occasions. He scored by three parts of a length at Windsor last time and, although now 6lb higher, remains open to plenty more improvement as an unexposed sort over middle distances. Wonder is a highly consistent performer who ran well when third at Lingfield and can go close again returning from a break, while Gallant Lion has been holding his form well in his last couple of starts, including a narrow victory at Brighton, and can make his presence felt again if building on his latest efforts.
MERCURIUS POWER has been in good form and was narrowly denied at Newcastle last time, beaten just half a length from only 1lb lower. He remains competitively weighted on the pick of his earlier form and looks capable of going close again. Barleybrown was well below his best at Newcastle when failing to justify favouritism but was a close second at that track the time before and is also on a workable mark judged on his earlier efforts, so can bounce back returning from a break. Create returned to form when scoring in a classified race at Ffos Las and can go well again, although she needs to build on that effort now back in handicap company.
PALLADAS made an excellent impression when travelling best before quickening clear to win by 3l on debut at Kempton. The 750,000gns Lope De Vega colt looks a smart prospect for an in-form Charlie Appleby and, with further improvement likely, he sets the standard in the Godolphin royal blue. Regal Desire has shown promise in both starts and was only beaten half a length at Beverley last time, so she can progress again having gone well enough here already on debut. Assiri Heights was well below expectations on debut, sent off the short-price market leader but finishing last bar one. However, as a Frankel colt from the Juddmonte operation, and trained by the ever-capable Andrew Balding, he is surely capable of much better and can improve significantly after a long break since last July.
PROSPERITY made a promising start when scoring by around a couple of lengths at Ripon on debut and, with further improvement likely, can follow up here. She is bred to stay further than this mile, so there could be plenty more to come with experience. Al Jolson cost 260,000gns as a Night Of Thunder gelding and is a half-brother to Nashid, a useful 8f winner, while his dam was smart over 10f, so he looks an interesting newcomer for the in-form Simon and Ed Crisford. Peaceful Spirit stepped forward from her debut when fourth here last time and can improve again with that experience behind her.
DIXIELAND BLUES returned to form when scoring by a couple of lengths at Kempton last time and, although 8lb higher, he has the benefit of an in-form Simon and Ed Crisford team and could build on that effort. Sovereign Ocean has already won twice in his short career and was only beaten half a length at Chester last time. He remains on a competitive mark, so can go well again with his latest effort under his belt. Legal Reform has also remained in largely good form since last year, including winning by half a length over C&D last time, and a 2lb rise should not prevent another bold showing.
SPACE PARTY built on his debut when runner-up at Windsor last time and, with a short break since, should have more to offer making the switch to the all-weather for Henry Candy. Storm Force was heavily backed on debut and showed plenty of greenness, doing best of those chasing the winner before being eased once the race was gone. If settling better after a long absence, the Starspangledbanner gelding could improve for his top connections. Iron Dome is 80,000gns Blue Point gelding and is a half-brother to the very useful Thelma's Angel, while his dam was high-class over 5f, so he is an interesting newcomer for Clive Cox.
BLACK ORCHID has shown plenty of promise in her starts, including shaping well when runner-up at Wetherby last time. With further improvement likely and Billy Loughnane booked for Amo Racing, she looks a big player. Yordan made a promising start when beaten just half a length over 7f at Leicester and, with a drop to sprinting likely to suit based on his pedigree, should progress again. Oddjob showed some promise when fourth at Wolverhampton on debut and, with plenty of speed also in his pedigree, can improve for this drop back in trip.
MASSIMO BLUE has been competitive in his last two starts, finishing third on both occasions, and was beaten just over two lengths at Wolverhampton last time from this mark. Suited by this trip and at his best on AW, he can go well again. Toptime has also been in good form, winning at Nottingham before going close when third at Wolverhampton, and remains capable of another bold showing from the same mark. On Key has also been holding his form well since winning at Wolverhampton three starts ago and, having remained in the minor honours the last twice, can go well again in his current mood.
Whilst studying the form, we have a dedicated horse racing free bets page where you can find offers on all today's racing, as well as offers to use for races on our Ante-Post Prices page, which has markets available for upcoming major meetings as well as the Grand National 2026, Royal Ascot 2026 and Cheltenham Festival 2026.
