Cast No Shadow makes his sixth start for the Coral Racing Club this evening in the Class 4 Restricted Maiden Stakes (17:30) over five furlongs at Southwell.

Read our Raceday LIVE preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and our lucky owners for the day across our social channels.

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Raceday LIVE Preview

This evening marks the first time that Cast No Shadow has raced at Southwell, having previously been to Newcastle twice, plus Ripon, Lingfield and Kempton before now.

His best performances have come at Newcastle over the straight five furlongs, finishing second on his third run for the club in November last year, before another solid fourth place finish a month later.

The form of that penultimate run is working out very well so far, with the first, second and third all winning next time out, so we're hoping that Cast No Shadow can draw a line through his last run at Kempton and show more of what he did at Newcastle today.

WATCH: Cast No Shadow flies home to finish 2nd at Newcastle | Raceday Highlights

The club's Hugo Palmer-trained colt steps back down to five furlongs and returns to maiden company today, after a less than perfect handicap debut over six furlongs last time out.

Jason Hart is also back in the saddle this evening. which is a real plus given he was the one who guided Cast No Shadow to his best finish to date – the aforementioned second place at Newcastle on the 10th November.

Raceday message from Hugo Palmer

"Cast No Shadow seems in good order and I hope that the return to 5f will bring about some improvement.

I expect that Quercine will be able to give him a lead and hopefully we will be able to track that horse and pick her off on the run to the line.

Cast No Shadow was disappointing over 6f last time when we were hoping to see some improvement, but hopefully a return to 5f on a straight track can see him to better effect."

Prize Money and Owners for the Day

Today's Class 4 contest is worth £11,400 in total, with the winner set to scoop £6,156 for their lucky owners.

2nd place: £2,890 | 3rd place: £1,446 | 4th place: £723

As part of the Owner for the Day competitions we launch here on the Coral Racing Club website when one of the club's horses has been entered in a race, each of the 10 lucky winners who get the chance to attend as an owner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won.

Trainer and jockey form

Hugo Palmer has been in excellent form recently, with a two-week strike-rate of 27%, with wins coming here at Southwell, Newcastle, and in the Hawar Cup in Bahrain. He has one other horse running today, How Impressive, and will be hoping that he and Cast No Shadow can continue the great form that the Manor House Stable team are in.

Jason Hart has had a relatively quiet start to the New Year, riding eight winners so far in 2024. Two of those winners have been in the last seven days, however, with one over six furlongs here at Southwell, and the other coming at Chelmsford.

Jason's record riding for Hugo on the all-weather is definitely one to note. He's ridden seven winners from just 18 rides in the past five years, with the other nine all finishing second, third or fourth in their respective races.
 
Racing Post | VERDICT

The step up to 6f didn't go well for CAST NO SHADOW on his handicap debut at Kempton but he has more going for him in an ordinary maiden back at 5f on Tapeta.

There are some question marks about his rivals but Quercine should give it plenty from the front and Tees Harriet (second choice) looks capable of improving on her promising debut at Newcastle. Sparklight and Mariners Way are also worth a look. [Emily Weber]

Today's opposition

• Quercine makes her third start today after impressing when finishing second behind El Bufalo, who finished a length and a quarter ahead of Cast No Shadow two starts ago. Harry Davies retains the ride for Charlie Fellowes this evening.
  
  
• Sparklight is of some interest, having finished second twice and third once in five runs. She steps back down to five furlongs today, after a disappointing fourth when favourite last time out. Georgia Dobie claims three pounds in the saddle for in-form trainer Eve Johnson Houghton (20%, two week strike-rate)
   
• Exponential finished seven lengths behind Cast No Shadow on his debut run, and finished far closer to the winner of his last race. He makes his third and final start today before being handicapped for Brian Smart, who had a winner yesterday.

   17:30 SOUTHWELL  – LATEST BETTING HERE   

We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 17:30 to watch Cast No Shadow's next run for the club.