The last domestic AW fixture until December 16th takes place at Southwell on Saturday with the feature handicap the 0-80 contest over 5f at 5.30.

The selection for this race is BONA FORTUNA, with Mick Appleby’s gelding coming into the race in fine form including since returning to the AW. Successful at Wolverhampton in September, he ran at least as well when chasing home a reliable yardstick over this course and distance a fortnight ago. He races off the same mark, but this is a slight drop in grade.

The opening 0-60 handicap over 1m at 2.05 can go to TITAINIUM. Grant Tuer’s gelding appeared to have badly lost his way, but he showed definite signs of a return to form when fourth of 12 at Newcastle 12 days ago. A 2lb drop since then puts him 12lb below his last winning mark and this is only the second time he has raced down at this level (finished runner-up in the other).

RIDGER should be hard to beat in the 0-60 handicap over 7f at 3.13. Ollie Sangster’s gelding has thrived since the tongue-tie went on including wins at Wolverhampton in September and Kempton last month. He was thwarted in his hat-trick bid back at Wolverhampton 11 days ago, but the winner has twice gone in again since so he must have a great chance of regaining winning form from just 1lb higher.

I’m going to give another chance to PIPERSTOWN in the 0-55 handicap over 6f at 4.25. The Frosts’ gelding has run poorly in both starts since returning from 177 days off last month, but he now gets a tongue-tie and is just too well handicapped to ignore, being 2lb lower than when winning for the third time here in April. David Bellingham