Conservative returns to action for the Coral Racing Club this evening in the 17:00 Class 5 Handicap over a mile 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

Conservative was last seen finishing in four lengths off the leader in eighth place earlier in the month, in a contest over course and distance. That was our gelding’s first appearance on track in over six months and was a very satisfactory performance.

He led well for a long distance in the race, before eventually being caught and tiring towards the end of the contest, as was expected given the long layoff that he had.

Our five-year-old has got previous form over course and distance, with his sole victory coming over course and distance. He beat Kathak on that day, who reopposes here today, before being given an opening mark of 78, which is fifteen pounds more than he is rated today.

Raceday message from Scott Dixon

Conservative ran with plenty of credit on his reappearance, although he did run as if he needed it, which isn’t surprising given his absence from the track prior to that. Since that return, he’s been in good form at home, and really does seem to have come on well for the run, which is great given the previous niggles we’ve had with him.

Elisha Whittington takes the ride again, and we’re drawn in stall 9 once again. As a yard we have a strong hand in the race, running three in total, so as well as Conservative we have King Of York, the current favourite, and Create, but with a bit of luck, I hope Conservative could have an each way chance. 

Prize money and Owners for the Day

Today's Class 4 contest is worth £12,000 in total, with the winner set to scoop £6,281 for their lucky owners.

2nd place: £2,947 | 3rd place: £1,472 | 4th place: £737 | 5th place: £367

As part of the Owner for the Day competitions we launch here on the Coral Racing Club website once 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

Scott Dixon has been in solid form lately, winning four races, and placing in a further three, in the last fortnight, at a strike rate of 15%. He sends three into today’s race, including Conservative, looking to improve on that rate at his local racecourse.

Elisha Whittington has ridden two of those winners for Scott, in thirteen rides, returning at a rate of 15%.

Racing Post Spotlight Comment on Hey Day Baby

Won here for former yard; 0-9 for this one and dropped away here 19 days ago after a break

Today's opposition

• Yorkstone is an interesting runner for Michael & David Easterby. He's won three of his last four on the flat, including a dead heat over course and distance last time out. Joanna Mason rode him on those three occasions and takes the reins again today.

• King Of York is the most fancied of Scott Dixon's three runners in the race having placed in his last two races, both of which were over track and trip. Kieran O'Neill is in the saddle today, as he was last time out.

• Soames Forsyte carries some excellent momentum into this evening's contest and aims for the hat-trick here today having won his last two contests, including the dead-heat with Yorkstone two starts ago. Tom Eaves rides him again as the pair aim for three in-a-row.

   17:00 SOUTHWELL – LATEST BETTING HERE   

We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 17:00 to watch Conservative's next run for the club.