Southwell Tips: Coyle charge to show Pride in performance

Racing returns to the Tapeta surface at Southwell on Thursday following the recent flooding at the track. The floodlight action features a bumper nine races and it’s highlighted by the Class 4 handicap over a mile at 18:15.

The action in Nottinghamshire gets underway with a 7f handicap at 16:15 and they go through until 20:15, when 12 runners are due to go to post for a 1m 6f contest.

We have picked out a trio of runners to follow at Southwell, including an exciting filly from Tony Coyle's yard who will be making just her second appearance on the Tapeta in the evening's opener.

16:15 - Selby's Pride @ 12/1

Selby's Pride has been running well on turf of late and Tony Coyle’s charge is unexposed on the all-weather. The four-year-old had her first start on the Tapeta at Newcastle and she ran with credit on that occasion.

Selby’s Pride was only beaten by one-and-a-half lengths in fifth, in what was a credible and promising run, and that was in a 0-80 handicap.

The four-year-old drops in grade to a 0-70 company here, on just her second career Tapeta start, and there could well be more to come from Coyle’s runner.

The step up to seven furlongs is a slight concern, but Selby’s Pride has stayed on over six on heavy ground on the turf and a turning trip at Southwell should be fine.

18:15 - Al Rufaa @ 13/8

Al Rufaa scored at Wolverhampton last week on just his second start for Daniel & Claire Kubler and there looks to be scope for a follow-up success in the mile handicap at 18:15.

The six-year-old was fully in command and came away to score impressively at Wolverhampton and the gelding appeared to benefit from the strong pace of that contest.

There are 12 runners set to go to post this evening and that should ensure this contest is run at a decent tempo and the five-pound penalty from Wolves is unlikely to stop the six-year-old.

Al Rufaa was rated 105 at his peak and today’s rating of 85 looks a lovely number.

19:45 - Angle Land @ 7/1

Angle Land was rated 84 as recently as this summer and Robert Cowell’s charge goes to post off 75 in the five-furlong handicap at 19:15.

The four-year-old was dropped a further pound for her effort at Lingfield last time out and that looks significant.

Angle Land gets into a 0-75 handicap for the first time in 14 starts and the drop in grade can do the trick. The four-year-old’s record at Southwell reads 7,2,2,1,8,2 and another big run is on the cards.