Queen can trump Southwell rivals

HAREEM Queen has taken a liking to Southwell and can demonstrate her affection for the Fibresand again in the Betway Heed Your Hunch Handicap.

Karl Burke’s filly bagged a 9lb hike in the ratings for her ready courseand-distance success on handicap debut last month.

But there was a convincing manner to her authority then, as in her maiden victory here in October, and it will be no surprise at all to see her repeat the dose.

On her previous visit, Hareem Queen accounted for Free Love - a vastly more experienced fellow threeyear-old who is a four-time winner and has acquitted herself well on this surface but was brushed aside with ease.

There is every reason to anticipate the hat-trick.

Half-an-hour later, Noble Behest is another handicapper with good prospects of completing the same winning sequence.

Ian Williams’ five-year-old will be bidding to do so over a significantly longer trip than Hareem Queen, in the marathon Betway Casino Handicap.

Noble Behest will be making his course debut as well as trying an extended two and a quarter miles for the first time.

If those two factors raise understandable alarms, though, they are offset by the evident stamina he displayed over an extended two miles to win at Wolverhampton last time.

That success, hard-fought as at Chelmsford previously, suggested the extra distance could be right up his street.

Earlier on the card, Makambe may get back to winning ways in the Bombardier “March On Your Own Drum’’ Handicap.