Sport

Quixote can make quick impression at Southwell

Quixote has yet to really put his best foot forward in Britain, but all that can change with victory in the sunbets.co.uk Handicap at Southwell today.

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 all-weather 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 pre-Christmas all-weather period, but his fourth at Lingfield in January marked him as the 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.

Glenalmond has fallen a long way from his heady juvenile days when he beat future Royal Ascot victor My Dream Boat and was only a length adrift of subsequent multiple Group One hero Muhaarar.

The five-year-old even lined up in the 2000 Guineas a couple of years ago, but it has sadly been pretty much all downhill since then.

That said, Glenalmond appears to have found a much more suitable level of competition now and can go well in the Betway Middle Distance Handicap.

Stepping up to 10 furlongs seemed to bring about some improvement at Chelmsford back in February and he clearly lacked the necessary pace to push on over an extended mile when only third last time out.

Switching up to a mile-and-three-furlongs on this occasion, Glenalmond can keep batting on with credit.

Nicky Henderson's Bivouac has shown plenty of ability in two outings over fences this term and can keep up the good work in the Trust Klober Novices' Chase at Kempton.

He looked every inch a future chaser when racing over hurdles and despite making a late start to the campaign at Exeter in February, he seemed a likely type to make his mark in this division.

While he was beaten some 14 lengths on that occasion, the experience was clearly not wasted on him as he stepped up to the mark at Leicester last month.

He was far from impressive that day as he only really got on top of Spoilt Rotten in the final 100 yards, but the soft ground really did not seem to play to his strengths.

Better conditions are anticipated in Sunbury and it will be disappointing if Bivouac cannot follow up as he is clearly a horse of some potential.

Anything PAul Nicholls runs merits close consideration and that comment certainly applies to Wealth Des Mottes in the Recticel Insulation Perfect Finish Novices' Hurdle.

The four-year-old was a winner in his native France last July and was pitched in at the deep end by Nicholls on his British bow, tackling a Triumph Hurdle trial at Cheltenham in November.

He ran no sort of race that day though and was pulled up, while he disappointed again when only sixth at Doncaster in January.

Wealth Des Mottes arrived with a big reputation from France though, and it could be too early to write him off entirely, particularly as this looks his easiest task to date.

Nap: Quixote

(4.20: Southwell)

Double: Glenalmond

(5.55: Southwell)

Treble: Bivouac

(2.30: Kempton)

Yankee: Wealth Des Mottes

(3.40: Kempton)