Southwell preview: Mission Complete can cash-in on class drop
Published:
David Metcalf | November 9, 2015
Mission Complete can take advantage of a drop in class to get back to winning ways in the 3m handicap chase that opens proceedings on today’s card at Southwell (12.30).
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 now drops down into class 5 company having competed at a higher level throughout the last few seasons, and 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.
Punters should get behind Benefit Cut
Benefit Cut shaped really well when runner-up on his seasonal reappearance and can go one better to land the 2m 4f handicap chase (13.30) now stepped back up in trip.
The Stuart Edmunds trained nine-year-old is a tough front runner who was last successful when 19 months ago when digging deep to land a decent class 3 contest at Ascot by 1/2 a length off a mark of 135.
Since then the gelding has been highly tried in more competitive affairs, but far from disgraced in finishing third in a class 2 contest off 133 and fifth of 11 in a class 1 affair at Cheltenham off 132.
Benefit Cut is now able to race off just 127 in what doesn’t look the strongest of class 3 contests, and comes into it the race on the back of a cracking second to the unexposed Purple ‘n Gold over 2m 1f at Worcester.
The nine-year-old attempted to make all and rallied gamely when headed four out to go down by 3 1/4 lengths, and it was a most pleasing comeback run over a trip which was on the short side.
Benefit Cut looks sure to appreciate the extra three furlongs in this, and if allowed to dominate is going to be very hard to peg back from what looks a very exploitable mark.
Selections:
12.30: Mission Complete (NAP)
13.00: Rosa Fleet
13.30: Benefit Cut (NB)
14.00: Terminal
14.35: Brave Richard
15.10: Braavos
15.45: Carlo Rocks
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