Southwell preview: Mission Complete can cash-in on class drop

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.