Southwell racing tips: De Vega’s Warrior and Turner Girl battle for overdue success

15:32 Southwell: Boost Your Acca With BetUK Handicap (1 mile 6 furlongs)  

Lightly-raced Barrel Aged looks likely to be sent off as the well-backed favourite, and with some justification after coming runner-up over this course and distance 24 days ago, when he was no match for the winner Savvy Brilliance, but was well clear of his 10 other rivals strung out behind.

Planet Sport Bet: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Barrel Aged wins by more than 1 length, get a £5 Free Bet

Jim and Suzi Best’s 10-year-old Grandee gives at least five years to 10 of his 11 rivals, but the veteran is raced sparingly these days, and he looks the pick of the five outsiders carrying a double-digit price, and with four places widely available he could be in the mix under David Probert

However, according to Tipstrr’s pundits, this race might just develop into a battle between Flat racing’s celebrated married couple, Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle.

The market suggests that Marquand has the better chance of landing a blow on board De Vega’s Warrior, who is long overdue a maiden victory after 19 Flat runs that have promised plenty without delivering a visit to the winner’s enclosure.

Michael Appleby’s five-year-old came closest yet to ending that sequence when runner-up on his penultimate outing at Chelmsford in November, while last time out two weeks ago his sixth-placed finish was a decent effort after finding himself poorly positioned just as the leaders picked up the pace on the run -in.

Marquand’s last outing before this meeting saw him land the last race at Kempton on Wednesday night, and his booking, along with the application of first-time blinkers, could prove significant as connections look to end their promising gelding’s fruitless run.

Suggested bet: De Vega’s Warrior in the 15:32 at Southwell

• Tip advised by Each Way Target Tips on Tipstrr

Meanwhile, Marquand’s wife Doyle will climb aboard Ed Dunlop’s Turner Girl with high hopes of converting several near misses into a win, after the mare finished among the each-way places in nine of her 11 outings in 2023.

That sequence included one win at Newcastle in August, while more recently she finished a respectable third of eight over a shorter 10-furlong trip at Chelmsford six weeks ago.

Despite carrying top weight here, the manner in which Turner Girl stayed on last time out suggests she should relish the significant step up in distance here. 

Next best bet: Turner Girl each-way in the 15:32 at Southwell

• Tip advised by Nicky John Sang on Tipstrr

 

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