16:05 Southwell
Friday 10 February 2017
All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3516:0516:40
Betway Handicap
- 4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m | Standard | 8 Runners | Fibresand | Weighed In
- Off time: 16:07 | Winning time: 3m 40.16s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Improving handicapper who has won his last three starts, the latest victory coming over 1m6f here. Looks well-in under a penalty although this race may well have a little more depth than his last start.
Not the first horse from this stable to have shown up well on their first try on fibresand and this one romped home by eight lengths on his fibresand debut. Has a hefty 9lb rise for that win but even off this higher mark he's hard to ignore on a surface that obviously suits.
Always uses positive tactics and did so to good effect when winning at Catterick and Chester last year. Disappointed here last time out in a 1m4f claimer although has won on this surface. Cheekpieces left off in favour of a visor this time around but probably has a bit too find on form.
Won here in early 2016 but below form on two visits to the course after that victory. Has been chasing the last three starts and well beaten in that sphere last time our when reportedly suffering a breathing problem.
Three wins from seven starts on the fibresand makes her worthy of respect. Respectable performances here the last twice although she was we;;-beaten by Fern Owl on her last start and despite the big turnaround in the weights still has work to do with that one.
Veteran who has won 27 of his 42 starts on the AW with a record of 16/19 here. Not seen since winning over 2m on the fibresand in December 2015 and despite his record on the surface faces a tough task here.
Still a maiden on the Flat (one career win over hurdles) and finished well beaten on her latest start in this sphere, makes her first start on this surface.
Four time winner in 2015 with one of those wins coming over a mile here. Fairly lightly raced on the Flat recently and well beaten on his latest start at Wolverhampton.
Forecasts
Fern Owl (4/5), Start Seven (13/8), Katie Gale (8/1), La Estrella (12/1), Virnon (20/1), An Fear Ciuin (20/1), With Hindsight (50/1), Amber Flush (100/1)
Two improving handicappers on fibresand go head-to-head in Start Seven and FERN OWL. Both look to have taken well to this surface and it should be a good duel between the two with the latter gaining narrow preference. It’s hard to see any of the others being good enough at these weights to take a hand although the veteran La Estrella must be given respect due to his remarkable record on here. Katie Gale has plenty of ground to make up on Fern Owl but may well be able to grab a place with the weights enabling her to get closer to her rival this time out.
1. Fern Owl
2. Start Seven
3. Katie Gale
Prize Money
1st: £4,852.002nd: £1,444.003rd: £722.004th: £361.00
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