Southwell — Wednesday 1st April 2026
Good ground at Southwell for a six-race jumps card that won't set the pulse racing on paper, but there's a clear angle in each of the three featured races if you know where to look. Two of the selections come from yards firing at strong strike rates over the past fortnight, and there's a live each-way play in the novices' chase that the market may be underestimating. Let's get into it.
4:00 — Country And Western Night Maiden Hurdle (2m, Good)
Selection: Road To Wembley — 4/7 Bet365
Yes, 4/7 is short. No, it doesn't stop this being the bet. Road To Wembley is trained by Olly Murphy, who is absolutely humming right now — seven winners from 31 runners over the past 14 days is a strike rate that demands respect, and he's sent Sean Bowen up to partner this one, which tells you everything about intentions. An RPR of 123 dwarfs anything else in this field. His only start over hurdles produced a second, so he's clearly learning his trade on the job, but Murphy wouldn't be here with his stable jockey if he didn't think the horse was ready to go one better. The market agrees, and rightly so.
The main danger is Novelista at 5/2 (Bet365/Betfred), a four-year-old for Warren Greatrex who has shown ability on the Flat — an RPR of 103 on debut over hurdles is decent — but the yard has managed just one win from 13 runners lately, which is not the form of a stable about to land a gamble. Top Coeur at 15/2 (Bet365) for Christian Williams has consistent placed form and can sneak into the frame, but Road To Wembley wins this if anywhere near his best.
Verdict: Road To Wembley — back it, don't complicate it.
2:30 — Book The Bistro Handicap Chase (3m½f, Good)
Selection: Queens Wish — 4/1 PricedUp Bet / 7/2 William Hill
Three miles and a half furlongs of slogging around Southwell on good ground suits a consistent, honest type, and Queens Wish fits that profile almost perfectly. Her form figures of 633133 tell you everything — this mare shows up, she competes, and she's found the frame in three of her last six starts. A current RPR of 114 puts her in the mix off a mark that looks workable in a race where the favourite carries questions.
Hell Hound at 6/4 (Bet365/William Hill) is the jolly but Neil Mulholland's yard is showing just three winners from 26 runners in the past fortnight — a mediocre 11.5% strike rate — and a form line of /134-P with that pull in handicap isn't screaming confidence at short odds. Fern Hill at 9/2 is an 11-year-old who can run well fresh but is always vulnerable to jumping errors at this trip.
Queens Wish, with Charlie Todd aboard and a yard that's in reasonable nick (3/15 for Christian Williams), looks overpriced at 7/2 to 4/1 against a favourite who has plenty to prove. Small-field chase so no each-way badge here — back her to win.
Verdict: Queens Wish each way on the win market at 4/1.
3:00 — Easter Family Fun Day Novices' Handicap Chase (2m4½f, Good)
Selection: Intenzo Each-Way — 5/2 Bet365/PricedUp Bet
This race is more open than the market suggests, and the value is right at the top of the market. Intenzo is a five-year-old for Mark Walford whose recent form of 03442 shows progressive improvement — the 4-4-2 finishes are on an upward curve, and on RPR 113 he matches the top weights in this field despite carrying less. Jamie Hamilton takes the ride, and Walford's yard has two winners from 24 runners recently — modest overall, but this horse's individual profile is improving.
Ukantango at 11/4 (Bet365/William Hill) for Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen will be heavily supported — rightly so given the Murphy form we noted above — but a last-time-out ninth place (form figure: 9) and a 9-year-old frame does give me pause. Big Boy Barney at 7/2 (Bet365/William Hill) for Fergal O'Brien is interesting — form figure of 235361 shows a recent win — but the O'Brien yard has returned just one winner from 30 runners in the past fortnight, which is a dire 3.3% strike rate. Hard to trust at 7/2 when the stable is running cold.
Intenzo's improving profile, light weight-for-age advantage, and the fact the market hasn't pushed him below 5/2 makes this a solid each-way play. Six runners means only two places at 1/4 odds — not ideal — but the win case is genuine at this price.
Verdict: Intenzo each-way at 5/2 — 2 places, 1/4 odds.
Today's NAP
Odds: 4/7 — Bet365 (others: 4/7 Unibet, 1.56 Betfair Exchange)
Olly Murphy is the hottest trainer in Britain right now with seven wins from 31 runners in the past 14 days, and he's sent his stable jockey Sean Bowen to Southwell specifically for this horse. Road To Wembley's RPR of 123 towers over the opposition — the next best is 119 — and a debut hurdles second suggests he's learning fast. This is a novice maiden hurdle, and Murphy simply doesn't send ammunition like this without intent. Short price, but a near-certainty in this company.