Southwell (AW) Tips – Thursday 9 April 2026

Southwell (AW) Tips – Thursday 9 April 2026

A seven-race card on the Fibresand at Southwell, with Standard going across the board. Flat season is warming up nicely and there are some genuine angles to attack here, particularly in the 5f handicap where the market has left a couple of horses at tempting prices. Three races worth getting stuck into.

2:42 — GB Civil Engineering Maiden Stakes (5f, Standard)

With two non-runners reducing this to six runners, the race simplifies considerably. The market has Ay Up Duck and Vinciamo as the principals, and the Spotlight is honest about both.

Vinciamo (2/1 William Hill) is the selection. Kevin Ryan's yard is cold right now (0 from 20 in the last 14 days), which is a flag worth acknowledging, but the horse's profile is strong enough to stand on its own merits. He showed genuine promise on debut for Marcus Tregoning 12 months ago, then reappeared four weeks back for Ryan as an 11/10 favourite and ran far too freely, weakening late. That's a forgivable run. Drop back to 5f on a track where pace-even horses get found out quickly, and a more sensible race from the front end should suit a horse with his early-speed pedigree far better. The Spotlight confirms he is a leading contender. At 2/1, there's no value windfall here, but in a field of six this is about finding the winner and Vinciamo is most likely it.

Shes Got A Brother at 12/1 is worth a small saver. The 100,000gns breeze-up purchase making her debut with hood and tongue tie suggests connections have taken time to understand her, and the note to follow the market is meaningful. If she's fancied on the day, she could easily outrun her odds in a weakened field.

3:17 — Book The Bistro Handicap (5f, Standard, 0-85)

The feature race of the day, and the one that repays closest study. Seven declared, one non-runner, leaving six runners in what is effectively a tight handicap sprint between horses who know Southwell well.

Fidelius (9/4 Bet365) is the shortlist leader on form. Three AW wins since November, including a comfortable score at Lingfield most recently, and a 5yo gelding bang in form. Robert Cowell's yard is quiet at 0 from 8 over 14 days, but Fidelius has been in the winners' enclosure recently enough that trainer stats feel less relevant here. The C&D form against Spring Is Sprung has the market leader winning, but Fidelius has since won again and the Spotlight suggests he should give his running. He's the solid each-way anchor.

The more interesting play is Marty Hopkirk Each-Way at 7/1 (Bet365). David Loughnane's yard has sent out 2 winners from 17 runners in 14 days, decent enough. This four-year-old won his novice on AW and posted a strong second at Doncaster on handicap debut over 5f in July on good to firm ground. He then went into deeper waters twice and was found wanting, but the key phrase in his Spotlight is "low mileage." He's been given a break and drops right back in class. A horse with that profile, lightly raced and returning from a layoff into a softer 0-85 contest, is exactly the type that goes in at a price. At 7/1 each-way in a 6-runner race paying 3 places, the maths work. Spring Is Sprung with Oisin Murphy up commands respect, but this is Marty Hopkirk's level and he's ready to show it.

3:47 — Fillies' Novice Stakes (6f, Standard)

Polly Darling's non-runner removes the one horse that looked a worthy favourite on official ratings. That opens the door considerably.

Got The Booty (5/6 Bet365) is the obvious market leader now, trained by Tom Ward with Oisin Murphy booked, and her form holds up. Made the running at Kempton when second of ten and that race has a solid look to it. She'll be out front again on the Fibresand and the strong pace-pressing style suits Southwell's configuration. The 5/6 is skinny, but in a race weakened by the non-runner, she's clearly the one to beat.

Jumeirah Sands at 13/8 (William Hill) is a potential alternative if you want a price on an unexposed filly. She missed the break at Wolverhampton and was always playing catch-up. That run is forgivable. The money that backed her there at 7/2 will be interested in whether she can bounce back. Ismail Mohammed's yard is quiet, and a 5lb claimer is up, which adds risk. Respect the price rather than bet aggressively.

Today's NAP