'He's in flying form' - expert analysis and trainer quotes for open handicap

A wide draw can be detrimental in 6f sprints at Southwell with runners beginning to sweep round a bend at about the 5f pole. Despite this, the two who dispute favouritism in the early betting for this open handicap are in the two widest boxes.

Rousing Encore (stall ten) and Stanley Spencer (11) have been given that respect because of their recent progression.

Rousing Encore has recorded a Racing Post Rating at least 9lb above his BHA mark on his last four starts, while Stanley Spencer seeks a hat-trick. Stanley Spencer tackles a Class 2 after victories in races two and three classes below, so will need to raise his level.

Altmore, another three-year-old with a wider-than-ideal starting berth (stall eight) who is respected among bookmakers, saw his own hat-trick bid thwarted after attempting to defy a similar step up in grade at Doncaster last month.

A tempting runner from the same age group is Palmar Bay. The only time Ralph Beckett booked top 5lb claimer Jack Doughty, the pair combined with a 14-1 winner. There have been excuses for Palmar Bay on both autumn outings. He raced alone on the far side at Ascot; too keen on bad ground at Haydock.

Of the older brigade, Aramis Grey (stall three) should feature on any shortlist. She fared best of the far-side group off this mark in the Ayr Gold Cup when last seen 59 days ago. That run was in keeping with strong efforts on the turf and similar breaks have seen this smart all-weather performer to good effect.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Rae Guest, trainer of Aramis Grey
She's been running in some top handicaps, including last time in the Ayr Gold Cup. She's never run at Southwell before, but if she takes to the track she should run a good race. She's in good form and usually runs well on the all-weather.

James Ferguson, trainer of Drama
You can put a line through his last run because he didn't act on the heavy ground at Haydock and Tom Marquand made sure he was okay. The time before that he won in good style on the all-weather at Kempton in the London Sprint Series Final. He's a horse I've always thought a lot of and he goes well fresh. It will probably be his last run of the year and it would be nice to finish on a high as he's done well this year.

Ruth Carr, trainer of Rousing Encore
He's in great form, and the course and distance are fine. We've got a poor draw [stall ten] and it's a competitive race, but we're hopeful of being in the mix again.

Jessica Macey, trainer of Jenever
It's the warmest race he's run in as it's quite competitive, but he's in good form, he's drawn well [stall two] and he likes the track.

James Tate, trainer of Stanley Spencer
He's in flying form and has won at the track. It's a steep step up in grade from a Class 4 to a Class 2, but it does give him a feather weight with Joe Fanning doing 8st 4lb.
Reporting by Andrew Dietz

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