15:55 Southwell
Thursday 26 January 2017
All13:0513:1513:3513:4514:1014:2014:4514:5515:2015:3015:5516:05
sunbets.co.uk Handicap
- 4YO plus  |  Class 5  |  1m  |  Standard  |  14 Runners  |  Fibresand  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 15:56Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 1m 44.47s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Last two wins have come over this C&D and handles this surface well. Unlucky to meet an improver last time out and should put up a creditable performance here.
Showed real improvement last time out when winning a maiden handicap over C&D. Took to the surface really well and even under a penalty looks likely to progress here given the style of his last win.
Won two handicaps within a short space of time in January showing improved form on each occasion over 7f on the fibresand. The form of his last race has already been franked and he still looks well handicapped on his old form with the extra furlong he has to travel here expected to suit him.
Won at Southwell over 7f in December off a career low mark when bolting up after travelling very strongly to win easily. Significantly upped in the weights after that win and he pulled too hard to be seen to best effect next time out. Dropped back in trip on his last start with a hood added and he still looked an awkward ride. Given his demeanor a step up to a mile is not expected to suit here.
Useful handicapper but approaching the veteran stage now. Has won here seven times, little below form here last time out but that run came over a trip that would not have suited. Better judged on his penultimate run and would be dangerous with an easy lead.
Dropping in the handicap but looked out of form for much of 2016 and has plenty to do on his first experience of this surface.
Appears best on this surface which suits his attritional run style that was shown to good effect when winning over C&D in November. Not quite in the same form in two runs at the track since and is best in races where he gets a strong pace to run at.
0/6 on the AW and showed little over 7f at Southwell last time out when a 50/1 shot and finishing a well beaten last.
Won in his debut here back in 2015 but plenty of water has passed under the bridge since then although he has won twice since. Ran no race at all on his second try on fibresand on his last start here and the he faces some in-form sorts who go well on the surface here.
Very lightly-raced four-year-old who has only seen the track on four occasions. Not seen since finishing last of six at Nottingham in June and well beaten on his one previous start at this venue.
Unreliable sort who can run some decent races at this track (has run here 59 times) and has won here nine times (never won anywhere else). Latest win came over 7f in November but has yet to score at this trip and meets some progressive fibresand types in this race.
Has scored three times on the AW, all at Wolverhampton but not won since June 2015 off a mark of 59 when completing a trio of wins. Turned in two solid efforts for this yard at Newcastle and Wolverhampton and given the modus operandi of the Appleby yard it's no surprise to see him given a go on fibresand. His breeding suggests he should act on the surface and he adds some depth to a race that looks a good for the grade.
Won a 7f maiden on the fibresand on his second start when with the Michael Bell yard. Not shown much in handicaps since then and was well held on debut for this yard at Newcastle in June.
Maiden handicapper who ran a creditable race at Newcastle last time over a mile. Had one previous try in a maiden (6f) on the fibresand and failed to impress, that gives her work to do here off this mark.
Forecasts
Zoravan (6/4), Anton Chigurh (4/1), Essenaitch (8/1), What Usain (9/1), Macho Mac (10/1), Stun Gun (14/1), Royal Holiday (16/1), Alpha Tauri (33/1), Space War (33/1), St Andrews (33/1), Miss Goldsmith (33/1), Cosmic Ray (66/1), One Man Army (100/1), Showing Off (150/1)
A good and competitive contest for the grade to end the card with some good (in this class) fibresand performers on display with Essenaitch and ZORAVAN setting the standard. The former comes here on a hat-trick having won back-to-back 7f handicaps earlier in the month and the extra furlong shouldn’t bother him. Zoravan carries a penalty but is still 3lb well-in at the weights as he will be running off a higher mark than this in the future. He showed that he was well suited by this surface last time out and being lightly-raced, still looks to have some progression in him. Anton Chigurh also has winning form here but may find top weight a little too demanding, especially giving weight to a couple of improving types. Both Royal Holiday and Stun Gun are capable on this surface although both look to have tough tasks here, while Macho Mac would have a chance if he actually settled in a race. If there is a “dark one” in the race then it would be What Usain who comes here off a lowly mark for a stable who know the time of day at this track with breeding that suggests he will act on the surface. The Appleby yard are not exactly firing at the moment but he’s one to watch in the market.
1. Zoravan
2. Essenaitch
3. What Usain
Prize Money
1st: ÂŁ3,558.002nd: ÂŁ1,059.003rd: ÂŁ529.004th: ÂŁ265.00
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