Southwell best bet: Commander Of Life looking to take control at decent odds

20:00 Southwell: Get Emma’s Offers at PlanetSportBet Handicap (1 mile)

It’s hard to argue with Prince Eric being installed as the early favourite after the three-year-old landed back-to-back successes since returning from a five-month hiatus, the most recent of which was by a healthy margin over this course and distance a month ago.

Planet Sport Bet Daily Special: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Prince Eric wins by more than 2.5 lengths, get a £5 Free Bet

Roger Varian’s Never Better leads the challenge after shaping up well to edge a 12-runner affair at Kempton six weeks ago, but assuming that the five outsiders in this nine-runner handicap are 20/1+ for a reason, then we’re left with the Marco-Botti-trained Commander Of Life as our most viable each-way option.

Suggested best bet: Commander Of Life each-way in the 20:00 at Southwell

An impressive winner at the third attempt when landing a 13-runner novice stakes over six furlongs at Chelmsford last July, his solitary effort on turf at Yarmouth, where he trailed in a distance last of ten, suggested his future lies on synthetic tracks.

Joining the Botti yard over the winter, there were encouraging signs on Commander Of Life’s return from a four-month break, when he finished a creditable fifth of nine in a shorter seven-furlong handicap at this track.

He plugged on gamely in that outing with enough in the tank to suggest this longer mile trip should not be beyond him, and in the capable hands of Rossa Ryan for the first time, he should be ready to improve further here.

• Tip advised by The King Of Horses on Tipstrr

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