The best race on Southwell’s Friday card is the 0-105 handicap over the extended 2m at 7.30, in which Alrazeen bids to repeat his win in this contest last year. It’s hard to imagine him going in again, though, as he has been off for 134 days and wasn’t in any sort of form when last seen, so this time the prize can go to CHARGING THUNDER. James Owen’s gelding has been racing over hurdles lately, but he had some useful form on the AW before that, winning over this course and distance in March and at Wolverhampton in July, while he finished third of the 20 runners in the Northumberland Plate in between. He needs a solid pace to run at, but looking at the opposition he may well get it.

Despite top weight STATEIRA should take the beating in the 0-85 fillies’ handicap over 1m at 5.00. Andrew Balding’s 3yo won over 7f here on her debut in February and regained winning form when slamming the reopposing Donna Nook by over 4l over this trip at Newcastle last month. She was shoved up 8lb for that, meaning she is 9lb worse off with the runner-up, but she was defying a four-month absence last time so she looks very much a filly on the up.

POPTY PING can finally get off the mark in the 0-60 nursery over the same trip at 5.30. David O’Meara’s filly is 0-9, but has been placed in four of her five starts on Tapeta (all at Newcastle). The stiff mile there has just appeared to find her out the last twice, though, so the return to this trip on a turning track may be just what she needs. The switch from cheekpieces to a visor may also help her.

The best bet over at Dundalk looks to be LADY KAI in the closing 0-70 handicap over 1m4f at 8.15. Ross O’Sullivan’s mare is lightly raced on the AW, but she defied a poor draw when winning over course and distance in September last year and was beaten less than a length into second of 14 back here in October. She has gone up another 3lb for that, but the winner of that race has gone in again since to give the form some substance. David Bellingham