Clearpoint bids to continue his excellent season in the Midnite A Next Generation Betting App Handicap (4.38pm) at Southwell on Saturday, March 21, a race in which six of the 12 contenders are rated 101 or higher.
The five-furlong specialist has climbed almost a stone in the handicap to 99 over the winter and arrives on the back of a career-best second to Diligent Harry in the Listed Midnite Hever Sprint at Lingfield Park.
Trained by Simon Hodgson, Clearpoint produced three strong performances in the closing months of last year, including dominant handicap victories at Lingfield Park and Wolverhampton.
Hodgson said: “Clearpoint is absolutely bouncing. I could not be more pleased with him. I think we have a good draw in stall 12, while there is no bend to worry about. I am hoping for a big run.
“I thought his run in the Hever Sprint was excellent. He showed another string to his bow by not having to gun from the front. He quickened up nicely a furlong out and I thought he was going to win, but then I saw Diligent Harry coming to get us! All in all, it was a solid effort.
“He had a fair bit of time off with an injury and there is no getting away from the fact that, when he came back last summer, he was quite well handicapped. He has stepped forward with each start and, even in a couple of races where he finished second, he was beaten by horses who broke the track record.
“There is not much for him on the all-weather after this, so he will switch back to the turf. We will see how he gets on this weekend, but we could look at some nice handicaps at the spring festivals like Chester or even Listed and G3 races.”
Robert Cowell saddles a quartet of runners headed by top-weight Clarendon House, who holds the five-furlong course record at Southwell and won last year’s Listed Hever Sprint.
The Newmarket handler and owner Middleham Park Racing also combine with fellow Stakes scorer Kylian, who makes his first appearance since going through the ring at Tattersalls in the autumn, and Newcastle handicap victor Fahrenheit Seven.
Archie Watson’s Spartan Arrow captured the G3 Mercury Stakes at Dundalk in October, although he has failed to reproduce the form in two subsequent starts in Dubai, while the Jack Channon-trained Miss Attitude landed a Listed contest at Deauville on her penultimate outing.
Italian import Gaeli looks to back up a striking UK debut, with Marco Botti’s five-year-old having comfortably defied a mark of 96 in a course and distance handicap earlier this month.
Against The Wind won a valuable prize at the track during the summer and contested the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye on his latest start for Kevin Ryan.
Cowell’s other runner Rhythm N Hooves lines up for the Cool Silk Partnership, while Middleham Park Racing is also represented by the David O’Meara-trained Ziggy’s Triton, who won twice at the course in December.
Brosay and Vintage Clarets, who both captured sprint handicaps at Ascot last year, complete the field for Charlie Pike and Richard Fahey.
