Southwell best bet (1640): Clear The Runway to give Harry Cobden chance to win race sponsored in his name

16:40 Southwell: Read Harry Cobden’s Blog at PlanetSportBet Handicap Hurdle (2½ miles)

The morning withdrawal of the well-backed Mr Bramley has left barely a single betting point covering the top five in the market, which offers some indication of the wide-open nature of this race.

A valid argument could be made for all of them, not to mention others from deeper in the betting, and Awaythelad certainly appears to tick most of the right boxes after landing back-to-back successes at Ludlow and Leicester in January. 

Ben Pauling’s seven-year-old can probably be forgiven for being pulled up in tougher Group 3 company at Sandown last time out 45 days ago, while fellow market leaders Elogio, High Treason and Tommy Time will also line up boasting decent recent form.

Of those carrying double-digit prices, both Rare Clouds and Nothin To Ask look interesting each-way prospects off handy marks, especially with four places available pretty much across the bookmaker board.

Planet Sport Bet Daily Special: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Nothin To Ask finishes in the first 4 places, get a £5 Free Bet

Our final nod, however, goes to the quietly fancied Clear The Runway, and how fitting would it be for Harry Cobden to win the race named after his regular PlanetSportBet blog!

Although disappointing last year, this more-than-capable eight-year-old clearly knows his way to the winners’ enclosure, having done so no fewer than seven times during his stellar six-year-old campaign in 2022.

Suggested best bet: Clear The Runway each-way in the 16:40 at Southwell

He returns to action here following an eight-month break, so clearly much depends on how he wintered for trainer Laura Morgan, but the booking of Cobden looks intriguing and certainly should boost his mount’s chances here.

It’s always worth following the aspiring Champion Jockey, who is clearly on the lookout for winning rides to maintain his slender seven-win lead over second-placed Sean Bowen, who has four rides of his own at this meeting.

Cobden will fancy his chances of adding to his impressive record at Southwell, which has proved to be a happy hunting ground in the past, with 37 of his last 59 rides here making the frame, of which 17 were winners for an impressive 29 percent win rate at the Nottinghamshire track.

• Tip advised by The King of Horses on Tipstrr

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