Southwell (AW) Tips: Thursday 30 April 2026

Southwell (AW) Tips: Thursday 30 April 2026

A seven-race card on the Fibresand at Southwell under the lights, and standard going throughout means we're on a genuine all-weather surface where course form counts hard. Three races stand out tonight, and there's a clear NAP among them. Let's get into it.

6:25 — Follow @attheraces On Instagram Restricted Novice Stakes (1m3f)

Selection: Pure Moon (10/11, Bet365)

Tom Clover's yard is quiet in the form book right now (0/11 last 14 days), but Pure Moon doesn't need the trainer firing on all cylinders to win this. The form he showed 25 days ago over this identical course and distance speaks for itself. He was second after encountering steering issues and still finished well, which in novice company over a mile and three furlongs on Fibresand is as good a piece of form as you'll find in this field.

His RPR of 75 towers over the rest of the field. Heroics (RPR 70) and Too Farhh Gone (RPR 70) come closest, but neither has the combination of course form and a staying pedigree that Pure Moon brings. He was eye-catching on his Nottingham debut in heavy ground too, suggesting he handles soft surfaces with ease. Fibresand at Southwell has a similar deep, testing quality. Jack Mitchell takes the ride and is a reliable partner in these sorts of conditions.

The only caveat is the trainer's current run, but the horse heads into this race with a genuine winning chance based on recent C&D form alone. He sets the standard and the market correctly reflects that. At 10/11 he's a short price in a novice, but he earns it.

7:00 — Follow @attheraces On X Handicap (7f)

Selection: Jersey Maverick Each-Way (13/2, William Hill / Coral)

Jimmy Speaking is the jolly here and he's probably entitled to be, but at 6/4 there's no value in following the market leader when there's a more interesting angle at bigger odds.

Jersey Maverick catches the eye at 13/2. Charlie Fellowes has been sharp lately (3/12 last 14 days), and this horse brings decent AW form to the table. He went to within a neck of winning at Kempton over 7f last October and was sixth at Kempton three weeks ago in a race where the form horses behind him have since boosted the form. Crucially, he's the one from that Kempton field who fared best when you filter for those reappearing here tonight.

The Epsom win on turf came from 8lb lower, so he's not without questions on the handicap mark, but Mikkel Mortensen's 5lb claim brings him into line. He may strip fitter for that recent run and Fellowes timing a run with a claimer aboard on this track is worth respecting. Each-way at 13/2 with three places on offer at 1/5 odds makes this a straightforward play.

7:30 — Free Race Replays On attheraces.com Handicap (6f)

Selection: Roberto Caro (11/4, Bet365 / William Hill)

This is the race of the night. Eight runners, competitive on paper, but Roberto Caro stands out as the most solid each-way threat in the field. Three solid efforts already this season including a third at Newcastle over 6f on Tapeta last month and a close fourth in a large field at Ripon only two weeks ago. He won a Racing League handicap off this same mark last summer, which tells you he's capable of winning at exactly this level when things fall right.

Crucially, he remains lightly raced on AW and returns to that surface tonight. The form on Tapeta (Newcastle) transferred over in style earlier this year, and Fibresand is another test he looks capable of handling. Mikey Sheehy takes the ride for Adrian Paul Keatley (1/10 last 14 days), a yard that isn't exactly flying but has that one recent winner on the board.

Station X (11/4) and Stanley Spencer (11/4 Bet365, 5/2 Midnite) are the main dangers. Stanley Spencer has C&D form and went very close at Kempton last month, so he's the real rival. But Roberto Caro's combination of AW form in 2026 and ability to run on turf recently without coughing up his mark makes him the pick at a three-way split in the market. Back him each-way if you want insurance against Stanley Spencer.

Today's NAP