Southwell begins 2026 with a bang as the Nottinghamshire course hosts a card worth £215,000, including a stacked lineup for the Midnite A Next Generation Betting App Handicap (2.30pm).
The six-furlong contest is likely to prove a dress rehearsal for the Midnite Sprint final, with the past two winners of the Good Friday contest in Kevin Ryan’s We Never Stop and the Tim Easterby-trained Fivethousandtoone featuring among the 13 runners.
Ten Pounds tops the weights with a rating of 104 as he makes his debut for Joey Ramsden. Formerly with Harry Charlton, the Wokingham Handicap third is unbeaten in three all-weather starts, most recently winning a conditions race at Kempton Park in October.
The William Haggas-trained Wiltshire and James Fanshawe’s Willem Twee have both enjoyed their biggest victories to date on the all-weather, with the latter taking the Listed Golden Rose Stakes at Lingfield Park in 2023.
Further down the weights, the in-form Coul Angel for Mick Appleby and Amo Racing’s Lakers are among several contenders turning four who arrive on an upward trajectory.
Lakers appreciated the return to six furlongs on his latest start as he comfortably landed a course and distance handicap in October, his first go at the trip since getting off the mark at Ffos Las in July 2024.
The son of Pinatubo had campaigned over seven furlongs and a mile following his maiden success, including winning a Newmarket handicap in June on his penultimate start for George Boughey.
Trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy said: “We were delighted to get a win into Lakers and have been very happy with his preparation over the last couple of weeks, although this is a much more competitive contest.
“He will need a career best, but I think we have found the key to him now in terms of the drop back in trip and the switch to the all-weather. He posted some impressive figures at Southwell last time and hopefully can deliver another strong performance.
“All being well, we would like to target the Sprint final, although that will depend on his performance here. Provided he is competitive, Finals Day is definitely something we will look at.”
Coul Angel was an eye-catcher as he failed narrowly in his bid for a three-timer at Kempton Park recently, with the race also featuring Ed Walker’s So Darn Hot in fifth and the Ian Williams-trained Purest Time in tenth.
So Darn Hot was one of the leading players in the 3YO division last winter for former handler Kevin Philippart de Foy, winning at both Newcastle and Lingfield Park’s AWC Trials Day fixtures.
Former Super Sprint victor Caburn, now trained by James Tate, has been off the track since scoring at Great Yarmouth in September – his first outing following a gelding operation.
Pocklington had a string of near misses in valuable handicaps during the summer for Geoff Oldroyd and kicked off his winter campaign with a second at Newcastle a couple of weeks ago.
Eminency drops back in trip for Stuart Williams following a recent success at Chelmsford, while Rochelle makes her first start since joining George Margarson from French trainer Anastasia Wattel.
