Southwell best bets: Drop in class set to bring the best out of Orbaan

16:15 Southwell: Download The PlanetSportBet App Handicap (7 furlongs)

After a few small-field races, the action steps up a notch with this 12-runner handicap that looks like a great opportunity for the line-up’s only course-and-distance winners How Impressive and Mustajaab to show their prowess again on familiar territory.

Their market support indicates their serious claims here, and the same can be said for early favourite Lion Tower, who finishes second over this distance at Newcastle two months ago, and can probably be forgiven for finishing down the field in Doncaster’s Spring Mile last month, when the ground and the mile trip clearly didn’t suit.

Planet Sport Bet Daily Special: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Lion Tower wins by more than 1 length, get a £5 Free Bet

That trio could well make up the first three here, but they hold limited appeal when it comes to backing each one to win, so better value can potentially be found elsewhere, and top-weight Orbaan certainly looks an interesting prospect on his return from a six-month break.

Although winless in 16 outings since the summer of 2022, that barren spell does not tell the full story, because David O’Meara’s nine-year-old has been mixing with much tougher company than this.

Orbaan was last seen trailing in 11th place in the Autumn Mile at York in October, which was a 0-105 handicap in which nine of the ten horses ahead of him were rated 93 or more, which is seven pounds higher than any of the rivals he will face in this lower-class 0-85 affair.

Now back at the mark at which he won the Coral Golden Mile at Goodwood in July 2022, he reunites with his most regular rider, Jason Watson, who guided an 11/1 shot into Thirsk’s winners’ enclosure on Tuesday and was edged out twice by a nose on two of his three rides at Wolverhampton on Wednesday. 

Suggested best bet: Orbaan each-way in the 16:15 at Southwell

• Tip advised by DW All Weather Specialist on Tipstrr

Anyone looking for more outsider value will be aware that most bookies are paying out on four places for this 12-runner handicap, and that has sparked some interest in the Tipstrr camp for the David Evans-trained five-year-old Ultramarine.

His four wins in his last nine outings were all hard-earned, the last one coming at over his distance at Kempton a month ago under the guidance of Hollie Doyle.

Doyle was unable to prevent Ultramarine from running too keenly over this course and distance last time out a month ago, but he could make his presence known in this company if that temperament can be kept in check.

That responsibility is entrusted to claiming jockey Alexandra McDonnell, who has yet to make the frame in her limited bookings to date, but whose seven-pound claim could be priceless here alongside Ultramarine’s easing mark. 

Each-way punt: Ultramarine in the 16:15 at Southwell

• Tip advised by The Profit Rocket on Tipstrr

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