Southwell (AW) 7:00 Result

Small 5-runner sprint with a clear form/class edge to Leading Times. He carries the highest OR (79) by a wide margin over this field, his form figures show a placed effort (12-) suggesting he's raced competitively, and Tim Easterby is a strong operator with AW sprinters. The layoff (303 days) is a slight concern, but his class rating is well clear of Believeinmenow (68) and Qila (71), who have had to work hard through the ranks in weaker company. Qila is in form (-20333) and has run recently which is a plus, and could go well, but is already fully exposed at a lowish level. Believeinmenow's recent form line (273942) shows a willing type but not a big enough state to overhaul the class difference. The two fillies, Sunday River and Wouldilietoyou, are unproven / no form and hard to trust in a competitive novice heat, though Sunday River's connections (Ellison, also runs Qila) is interesting as a yard percentage play. Overall the market should reasonably respect Leading Times' rating advantage, and with a fair draw (5) over the minimum trip, he looks the most likely to translate class into a win here, even accounting for the freshness question.