Southwell Placepot picks: Richard Birch's perm for the £50,000 guaranteed pool

Saxon Raider thrashed Maids Head by three and a quarter lengths last time out at Wolverhampton on his first start in a nursery.

The winner is now 8lb worse off with the runner-up, but can confirm the placings in leg one (4.15) of the Southwell Placepot, which carries a guaranteed pool of £50,000.

Zanzoun has the best form in leg two (4.45), but the Charlie Appleby-trained newcomer Courtly Queen is bred to be useful and might prove a league apart.

Course-and-distance winners Kodebreaker and Absolute Dream can fight out the finish of leg three (5.15), while Laura’s Breeze, who steps back up to 7f after a fine effort over 6f at Newcastle last time, makes strong appeal in leg four (5.45).

The James Ferguson-trained Wonder Legend performed well in defeat in Class 3 all-weather handicaps at Kempton and Southwell during the autumn. He has a lot of weight to carry in leg five (6.15) but could simply prove too talented for his six rivals.

The Coffee Pod seems sure to run his usual solid race in leg six (6.45), with Boadicia suggested for insurance purposes.

Southwell Placepot perm

4.15
1 Saxon Raider

4.45
2 Courtly Queen
12 Zanzoun

5.15
2 Kodebreaker
5 Absolute Dream

5.45
5 Laura’s Breeze

6.15
1 Wonder Legend

6.45
3 Boadicia
5 The Coffee Pod

1x2x2x1x1x2 = 8 lines

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