CONNOR BEASLEY, who signalled his intent on making a big impression this year in the apprentice ranks when riding a treble at Wolverhampton last week, can continue his excellent run at Southwell this afternoon.

The North Yorkshire claimer, who is attached to Michael Dods' Darlington yard, teams up with Newmarket trainer Chris Dwyer and can score on Hannahs Turn in the 32Red Fillies' Handicap.

Admirably consistent and a lover of this course, where she has gained all six of her career wins, Hannahs Turn finished a highly creditable third to Frontier Fighter on her latest start here in mid-February.

That form has since been franked with the winner going on to land a valuable handicap at this venue last week.

Hannahs Turn rarely runs a bad race and this looks an easier opportunity than she has faced for a little while. With the in-form Beasley claiming a valuable 5lb, she is napped to show her rivals the way home.

Norton trainer Tony Coyle is two-handed in the Bookmakers.Co.Uk Handicap and preference is for Keep It Dark, owned by York stalwart Noel Hetherton.

The gelding made an encouraging return to action over this course and distance last week when finishing a one length second to Alpha Tauri. This outing comes quickly enough for his second start after the winter off, but provided he can raise his game once again, he has every chance of going one better.

Barry McHugh takes the mount on Keep It Dark, with stable apprentice Laura Barry partnering Lost In Paris, who has yet to strike form and who ran yesterday.

Freddie Tylicki and John Jenkins have proved a pretty potent partnership on the all-weather this winter and the duo can click again with Pretty Bubbles in the Ladbrokes Handicap.

Although a beaten favourite last time out, when the race may not have been run to suit her, at Lingfield, the mare has some creditable form to her name. This is a race which may not take a lot of winning and, with her fitness guaranteed, she can get her head in front for a third time in her career.

Scarborough will be a tough nut to crack in the 32Red Thunderstruck Slot ll Handicap after his demolition job recently when he won by six lengths.

Michael Appleby is obviously keen to run him again under a penalty before the handicapper takes his revenge and 6lb extra is unlikely to halt Scarborough in today's contest.

At Wincanton, David Pipe, whose Ryanair Chase winner Dynaste is set to reappear in the Grade 1 Betfair Bowl at Aintree's opening day on Thursday, can hit the target with Off The Wall in the Red & Yella Mickey Bowley Memorial Handicap Chase.

The lightly-raced seven-year-old went down by only a length to Miss Saffron at Exeter last week, which represented an improvement in form. Off The Wall may be able to build on that performance in this long-distance event.

The Royal Artillery Gold Cup, confined to amateur riders from the military, may be best left to Benedictus following his close-up third at Leicester, while Kings Bayonet is fancied to win the Grassroots Jumps Series

 

Southwell today

2.35 Steele Ranger, 3.05 Keep It Dark, 3.35 Pretty Bubbles, 4.05 Scarborough, 4.35 Hannahs Turn (NAP), 5.05 Aureate, 5.35 Goldmadchen.

Wincanton today

2.15 Pressies Girl, 2.45 Supercillary, 3.15 Balbriggan, 3.45 Benedictus, 4.15 Kings Bayonet, 4.45 Off The Wall, 5.15 Jollyallan, 5.45 Shy John.

Today's other meetings

Kempton and Lingfield.

Tomorrow's meetings

Aintree, Lingfield, Taunton and Wolverhampton.