In the Betway Sprint AWT “Hands and Heels” Apprentice Series Handicap (3.30) at Southwell on Tuesday, Archie Stevens won over course and distance three starts ago, off a 5lb lower mark, and his subsequent placed efforts suggest he remains in decent form. Clare Ellam’s 8-year-old is hardly a prolific winner, but has done the bulk of his winning on synthetic surfaces and still looks realistically handicapped in a race that shouldn’t take much winning. He’s ridden by one of the more experienced apprentices in the race, Jonathan Fisher, and the partnership is well enough drawn in stall 7 to show some moderate rivals a clean pair of heels. Frankly, it’s hard to enthuse about anything else in the race so, despite a moderate wins-to-runs ratio, Archie Stevens actually make plenty of appeal.
Selection: Southwell 3.30 Archie Stevens to win