Quixote a novel selection

QUIXOTE’S British efforts could only really be described as average at best so far, but all that can change with victory in the sunbets.co.uk Handicap at Southwell.

The German-bred seven-year-old has plied his trade in Europe in previous years, winning a Listed event in Germany back in 2013 and lifting a handful of very moderate contests on the allweather in France too.

He will be having his first start for David Loughnane here having initially been campaigned by Tony Carroll in this country, with a mixed record of success.

Quixote did not really show too much on the turf last summer or in the preChristmas all-weather period, however, his fourth at Lingfield in January marked him as type to be finally finding his feet.

Lining up in a similar event to this, he had an unfavourably wide draw but soon got to the front and only narrowly failed to make all, eventually settling for a one-length fourth after being swamped in the finish.

The handicapper has steadily eased him down the ratings from a starting point of 97 to his current perch some 7lb lower and that ease can prove crucial.

Fiery Spice is on quite a roll and can keep up the good work with a fourth successive verdict in the 32Red.com Handicap.

He kicked off his winning spree in a maiden at this track in January before following up with victories at Newcastle and Southwell already this month.

Fiery Spice has a habit of edging left in the finish so is perhaps not totally straightforward, but he certainly has oodles of ability and it should be noted Robert Cowell turns him out under a penalty here rather than waiting for him to be reassessed.

Clan Des Obeaux can get his campaign back on track in the Higos Insurance Services Novices’ Chase at Exeter.

Paul Nicholls’ runner appeared to be a possible Festival challenger when running out a wide-margin winner of a Newbury Grade two back in November, but things have not really gone to plan since.

He was turned over as an odds-on favourite at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day but given he was beaten just a nose by subsequent RSA Chase second Whisper, the form of that effort looks particularly strong and he was duly sent off the market leader for a Grade One heat at Sandown in February.

He turned in a shocking run that day to finish last of five but the soft ground was probably not ideal and Nicholls’ yard was hardly firing on all cylinders at the time either.

Clearly Clan Des Obeaux had excuses, so he really should be setting the record straight here as he is vastly favoured by the conditions of the race.

Venetia Williams turns Buttercup out again quickly in the Higos Insurance Services Exeter Interactive Handicap Chase with a hike in the weights inevitable after a wide-margin win last time.

Raised 5lb for an easy success at Towcester in February, Buttercup made short work of her rivals to stroll home 18 lengths clear at Warwick just over a week ago.

With her 7lb penalty, Buttercup is effectively racing off a mark of 120 but she could prove to have been very well in in due course.

6-1 Led after 2f, made rest, clear over 3f out, increased lead over 2f out, eased final furlong, won at Southwell 1m 6f hcap 0-70 (5) fbs beating Denmead by 10l, 9 ran. 5-1 Close up, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden and hung left from over 1f out, stayed on, won at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs beating Sattelac by 1l, 7 ran. 13-2 Dwelt towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Zakatal at Newcastle 2m hcp 0-85 (4). 6-1 Tracked leaders, pushed along over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, effort over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Samtu at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs. 80-1 Always behind, 10th of 11, 19l behind Ravens Quest at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) in Feb.

2-1 Close up, chased leaders over 3f out, ridden 2f out, chased winner when short of room inside final furlong, switched right, kept on, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Samtu at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.

3-1fav Close up, led 2f out, ridden and ran on final furlong, readily, won at Southwell 1m claim (6) fbs beating Pool House by 4l, 10 ran.

11-2 Led, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, still every chance inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish, 3rd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Storm King at Southwell 1m 3f app hcp 0-75 (5) fbs. 7-1 Held up, outpaced and dropped to rear 5f out, rallied over 1f out, last of 7, 8l behind Isharah at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (3) fbs in Jan. 9-2 In rear, ridden 3f out, never a factor, 7th of 10, 10l behind Stamford Raffles at Newcastle 2m hcp 0-75 (5) in Nov. 25-1 Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 5, 19l behind Storm King at Southwell 1m 3f app hcp 0-75 (5) fbs. 25-1 Held up last, headway on outside over 1f out, plugged on past beaten horses inside final furlong, never troubled leaders, 7th of 11, 13l behind Codeshare at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4). 40-1 Awkwardly away, close up in 5th, pushed along over 4f out,weakened 3f out, last of 5, 20l behind Samtu at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.

50-1 Held up towards rear, headway inside final furlong, ran on, nearest finish, 3rd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Blaze Of Glory at Lingfield 1m 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Jan. Beaten 11l behind Nomorerichblondes when seventh of 8 on her latest outing in the Group 3 /uAE Oaks. Big Bad Bob gelding out of Magnificent Bell. Sir Percy filly out of Floating.

100-1 Chased leaders, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 12, 37l behind Garrick at Newcastle 1m mdn stks (5) in Feb.

66-1 Led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 7, 35l behind He’s A Lad at Southwell 1m mdn auc stks (5) fbs.

11-8fav Prominent, ridden to lead over 1f out, hung left final furlong, ran on, readily, won at Southwell 5f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) fbs beating Scotch Myst by 2l, 7 ran. 9-2 Chased leaders, driven over 1f out, no impression entering final furlong, 7th of 10, 5l behind Precious Plum at Wolverhampton 5f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) in Oct. 8-1 Towards rear, effort over 1f out, never dangerous, 7th of 10, 13l behind Wick Powell at Newcastle 6f hcp 0-85 (4). 25-1 Dwelt, close up in 5th, ridden over 1f out, not trouble leaders, 4th of 5, 4 1/2l behind Juan Horsepower at Lingfield 5f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) pol. 12-1 Tracked leaders, ridden and lost place over 1f out, weakened final furlong, last of 10, 9l behind Mr Pocket at Wolverhampton 6f 2yo hco 0-75 (5) in Nov. (176) K Dalgleish 8 9-7 ..................... D Tudhope (10) M Appleby 6 9-1 (D) ...................... S De Sousa (6) J Osborne 6 9-0 (D3) .................. T J Murphy (12) K Dalgleish 4 8-12 (D2) .... C Beasley (63) David Loughnane 7 8-12 (D4) ...... Ger O’Neill (7) (12) T D Barron 6 8-10 (D4) ................ P Makin (12) P Evans 6 8-8 (BF, C, D) ....... A Mullen (12) G Swinbank 5 8-2 (C) ................. J Fanning BETTING: 7-2 War Department, 5 Twin Appeal, Outer Space, Dusky Dawn, 6 Sir Billy Wright, 7 Supersta, 8 Quixote, 14 Ascription. FIXTURES SUNDAY Hereford, Naas, Wincanton. MONDAY Market Rasen, Plumpton, WOLVERHAMPTON. TUESDAY Hexham, Southwell, WOLVERHAMPTON. WEDNESDAY *KEMPTON, LINGFIELD, Sedgefield, SOUTHWELL. AW Flat meetings in capitals. *Denotes evening meeting. TOMORROW Haydock, *KEMPTON, NEWCASTLE, Warwick. THURSDAY *CHELMSFORD CITY, Chepstow, Ludlow, WOLVERHAMPTON. FRIDAY LINGFIELD, Musselburgh, Newbury, *NEWCASTLE. SATURDAY Bangor, Kelso, LINGFIELD, Newbury, Stratford, *WOLVERHAMPTON.

8-1 Tracked leaders, headway to lead over 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra and lost 2nd post, 3rd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Padleyourowncanoe at Southwell 1m hcp (6) fbs.

8-1 Dwelt, behind, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, never on terms, 6th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Ourmullion at Lingfield 1m 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb. 3-1fav Raced keenly, held up in touch on inside, switched left 3f out, chasing leaders when not clear run over 2f out until well over 1f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, 2nd close home, not reach winner, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Snookered at Leicester 1m 2yo hcp 0-60 (6) gd in Oct.

13-2 Held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, soon faded, 7th of 12, 10l behind Kilbaha Lady at Carlisle 7f Fillies Handicap (2yo) (5) gs in Aug. 9-2 In touch, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 4 1/2l behind African Grey at Newcastle 7f app hcp 0-60 (6). 25-1 In touch, pushed along 3f out, not trouble leaders, 6th of 11, 12l behind Padleyourowncanoe at Southwell 1m hcp (6) fbs. 200-1 Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 40l behind Excel Again at Newcastle 1m 3yo mdn stks (4) in Feb. 25-1 In touch, lost place over 2f out, 10th of 11, 7l behind Ourmullion at Lingfield 1m 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb. 50-1 Tracked leaders, 2nd 7f out, led over 2f out until 2f out, soon hung left and lost 2nd, weakened quickly over 1f out, 7th of 9, 9l behind Daily Trader at Newcastle 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5). 9-1 In touch, weakened over 2f out, last of 9, 12l behind Tigerfish at Lingfield 7f hcp (6) pol in Feb.

100-1 In touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 8th of 11, 17l behind Padleyourowncanoe at Southwell 1m hcp (6) fbs.