Southwell top tips (1715): Nordic Tiger to dominate as Basford targets frame finish

17:15 Southwell: Read Harry Cobden’s Blog at PlanetSportBet Handicap Hurdle (2½ miles)

There’s plenty in with a shout of landing this competitive looking renewal, but the word in the Tipstrr camp is that red-hot favourite Nordic Tiger is going to take all the beating.

This capable French import has made quite an impact since being acquired by Harry Derham’s yard last summer, progressing through a handful of increasingly promising performances until landing back-to-back successes at Huntingdon and Warwick in the space of one February week.

He was last seen finishing a decent second in a higher-class affair at Plumpton six weeks ago, and with the five-pound claim of Alice Stevens still enhancing his chances off the same mark, another bold bid is very much on the cards here.

Suggested best bet: Nordic Tiger in the 17:15 at Southwell

• Tip advised by Professor Plums Plums on Tipstrr

The betting market suggests that Klitschko and Kaleb pose the biggest threat to the favourite, but there are other more attractively priced prospects lower down the betting who look capable of mounting a challenge for at least the frame places.

Tom Lacey’s Letthedustsettle pulled up at Exeter last time out a month ago, but had impressed in his previous few outings, and the same can be said for our main each-way pick, Basford, who has run before when fresh and will be looking to hit the ground running after a 266-day break.

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He also was pulled up on his last appearance in August but prior to that Jenny Candlish’s gelding had enjoyed a stellar 2023 campaign that saw him finish in the top two in all of his other nine outings.

Basford broke a run of five straight runner-up spots with a tidy eight-length win at Newton Abbot, and the last of his three victories came at this venue in July when he landed the odds under Jonjo O’Neill by an imperious 39-length margin. 

The seven-year-old’s usual headgear is left off this time around, and Sean Quinlan returns having been at Basford’s reins for the early part of last season.

Next best each-way punt: Basford each-way in the 17:15 at Southwell

• Tip advised by The Outsiders on Tipstrr

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