Southwell preview: King’s Odyssey to reign supreme on chasing debut

David Metcalf | November 17, 2015

Trainer Evan Williams has his team in fine form, and King’s Odyssey can take advantage of what looks a handy mark to provide him with another winner in the 3m novices’ handicap chase on today’s card at Southwell (12.55).

Live like a King

The gelding finished a highly promising second on debut in a bumper at Warwick before showing progressive and useful form in four spins over hurdles last season. In the first of those, King’s Odyssey ran a blinder to finish a two length runner-up to the now 142-rated Some Plan at this venue.

The six-year-old backed that up with a solid fourth to Carraci Apache at Sandown, and the winner is a very useful sort who went on to land a Grade 2 contest at Doncaster and is now rated 145.
King’s Odyssey then ran well to finish runner-up at Chepstow before rounding off the campaign with a facile eight length success at Warwick.

The son of King’s Theatre has been allotted an opening handicap mark of 131 on the back of those efforts, and that looks very exploitable.

King’s Odyssey also has the size and scope to make up into a better chaser than a hurdler, and granted a clear round can take this en route to better things.

Mission possible?

In the 3m 1f handciap chase that opens proceedings (12.25), Mission Complete can cash-in on a drop in the weights to get back to winning ways.

The Jonjo O’Neill trained gelding is a moody sort who is on a long losing run having not scored since landing a class 4 contest at Worcester back in June 2014 off a mark of 108.

However, the nine-year-old has run well to make the frame on numerous occasions off marks as high as 118 and is now able to race off just 100.

That is the lowest rating Mission Complete has run off in over three years and gives the son of Milan outstanding claims from a handicapping perspective.

Mission Complete also has the services of Jack Savage in the saddle whose claim takes another 10lb off his back.

Taking it into account, Mission Complete looks thrown-in at the weights and this represents a glorious opportunity for him to get back on the scoresheet.

Selections

12.25: Mission Complete (NB)
12.55: King’s Odyssey (NAP)
13.30: Amidon
14.00: The Bugler
14.35: Florrie Boy
15.05: Via Volupta
15.35: Willoughby Court