'He's a course-and-distance winner who's in decent nick' - who fancies their chances in a competitive Southwell handicap?

This wide-open handicap is tough to narrow down but the lightly raced Lattaash is a good starting point. He has a steadily progressive profile and has looked good in cheekpieces on recent starts, following up a close third at Newcastle with a win at Wolverhampton last time.

Lattaash went off the 2-11 favourite when recording that novice victory and didn’t need to be anywhere near his best to land the odds as easily as he did. However, his four-and-a-quarter-length success confirmed that he remains in form and the handicapper hasn’t raised his mark.

He is therefore able to race off the same rating as when third in his last handicap at Newcastle and that day he was only a place behind subsequent winner Royal Zabeel, who is now rated 9lb higher. Lattaash did best of those from the rear and looks the one to beat on that form.

Palmar Bay heads the weights under 9st 11lb, but Jack Doughty takes 3lb off his back and that helps negate a 2lb rise in the weights for his narrow second at Lingfield last time. That was only his third start over 7f and his first on the all-weather, so there looks more to come.

Newsreader returns to 7f after a heavy defeat over a mile at Lingfield last time and all three wins have come at this trip, so that is a good move, while Federal Envoy is no forlorn hope either at bigger prices. He was a course-and-distance winner three weeks ago off 4lb lower.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Kevin Philippart de Foy, trainer of Newsreader
I've been pretty happy with him. A mile round Lingfield wasn't ideal last time, but previously he won nicely at Kempton over seven furlongs. He's up 3lb compared to that. He's in good form and the track should suit him, so he should have a decent chance.

Stuart Williams, trainer of Perennial
It's his second run for us and we're still getting to know him. It looks a strong enough race, but the step up to seven furlongs might suit him.

Michael Herrington, trainer of Legal Reform
He's a course-and-distance winner who's in decent nick and Richard [Kingscote] has won on him before. He ran a solid enough race there last time and hopefully he's come on a little bit for it. I'd be hopeful more than confident.

Iain Jardine, trainer of Federal Envoy
He won on his first start for me last time over course and distance. He's straightforward to train and obviously likes it round Southwell as he won there on his debut for Karl Burke as well. It's a step up in grade, but he's not a bad type. He's working well and Joe Leavy takes off a valuable 3lb.
Reporting by Andrew Dietz

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