14:10 Southwell

Thursday 5 January 2017

All12:3513:0513:3514:1014:4015:1015:40

Betway Handicap

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 2m 43.55s

(8)

Paladin^h²³^{(ex 6)}

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Mitch Godwin⁽⁵⁾| T: M Blake| OR: 60

3/1

Step up in trip last time worked wonders, recording game success after seeing off Bridley's Lettuce. Pair a long way clear then and could fight it out again here.

Form: 135004

(11)

Commissar^p,t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: K T O'Neill| T: Miss M E Rowland| OR: 61

20/1

Overall AW record isn't bad but struggling since joining this yard, failing to land a blow on all three starts. Latest saw him finish last of 11 at this trip around Wolverhampton last month.

Form: 455750

(3)

Bridey's Lettuce⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: D Nolan| T: I Furtado| OR: 61

5/2

Went down on his sword here late last month behind Paladin, extra furlong now and weighted to turn that form around before handicapper reassesses.

Form: 623342

(4)

Port Lairge¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Phil Dennis⁽⁵⁾| T: M C Chapman| OR: 58

22/1

Much-improved effort when second here last week on fourth start for this yard and a reproduction of that run puts him in the mix, not certain to deliver it.

Form: 62-7096

(10)

Stonecoldsoba¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: A Mullen| T: P D Evans| OR: 61

6/1

Opened his AW account over this trip at Wolverhampton in November before finding new mark too much back last month.

Form: 529318

(9)

Miss Tree²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 53

4/1

Disappointing favourite at Newcastle latest but still lightly raced in this sphere and did win an AW maiden in France. Too early to discount her.

Form: 1559-55

(6)

Mackiri^v1¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 47

14/1

This likely a better test than two-miles around Chelmsford before Christmas, dropping in the handicap and one to be wary of for class pilot.

Form: 7554

(5)

Chesham Rose^b1,t1¹⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Adam Beschizza| T: Dave Roberts| OR: 46

100/1

Three runs on this surface to date give no reason for confidence that she will be winning soon.

Form: 34-86

(7)

Miss Macchiato⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Joey Haynes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 45

20/1

Upped to this trip last time on second start for trainer and didn't run a bad race at big odds. Could be more to come in time, due to go down 1lb after today.

Form: 6074-25

(1)

Nutzma^b1⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Murphy| OR: 45

50/1

Eight-race maiden on the AW and due to get another 4lbs from the handicapper after today, best watched for now.

Form: 678849

Non-Runners

(2)

Ralphy Lad¹⁴

Weight: 9-10| Age: 6

T: G A Swinbank J: J Fanning

Forecasts

Bridey's Lettuce (5/2), Paladin (3/1), Miss Tree (4/1), Stonecoldsoba (6/1), Ralphy Lad (10/1), Mackiri (14/1), Miss Macchiato (20/1), Commissar (20/1), Port Lairge (22/1), Nutzma (50/1), Chesham Rose (100/1)

Bridley's Lettuce and Paladin fought out a terrific finish here last week and both are entitled to get involved again. The weights suggest the runner-up will gain some revenge but Paladin was game then and might have some more to give. RALPHY LAD could be good enough for this race on his early 2016 form and he was perfectly entitled to a blow out last time out, with the promise of more to come now. Port Lairge and Stonecoldsoba are others with chances if holding their form while Miss Tree could easily get involved in the finish. 1. Ralphy Lad 2. Paladin 3. Bridey's Lettuce