15:30 Southwell

Monday 11 December 2017

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 59.93s

(6)

Ballesteros²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Rhiain Ingram⁽⁵⁾| T: R Ingram| OR: 60| D

12/1

Won a Windsor claimer two starts ago, but was odds-on for that and generally excels on turf, though the drop in trip here shouldn't be an issue.

Form: 242310

(5)

Krystallite^p¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: B A Curtis| T: S Dixon| OR: 59| D

8/1

Both career wins have come on an AW surface, but not at her best recently despite a quickly sinking handicap mark, and looks the stable's second string based on jockey bookings.

Form: 056964

(1)

Pearl Acclaim^p¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: S J Drowne| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 59| D

16/1

Difficult enough to win with these days having previously been much better than this level of competition. No win since June 2015 and difficult to see that changing here.

Form: 269835

(7)

Archie Stevens⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Patrick Pilley⁽³⁾| T: C Ellam| OR: 51| CD

11/2

C&D winner a week ago and carries a 6lb penalty as a result. Won fairly convincingly that day (at a big price), and every chance he could go very close again here.

Form: 070361

(2)

Racing Angel⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: A Mullen| T: Adrian Nicholls| OR: 54| D

10/1

Three career wins all over 5f, but they also all came on turf and for a different trainer. All-weather form, including Fibresand, is much less encouraging.

Form: 760495

(13)

Jorvik Prince¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S H James| T: K Tutty| OR: 53| D

16/1

Makes his first appearance at this course having mostly been running moderately recently, including when beaten 20L at Newcastle last time out; others preferred.

Form: 080240

(14)

Novabridge^b⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 8-12| J: S A Gray| T: K Tutty| OR: 51| D

20/1

Ran a fair race to finish third over C&D two starts ago off the mark. Not so good here since, also over C&D, but clearly has the ability to hit the frame.

Form: 896720

(3)

Men United^v1⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: J Quinn| T: S R Bowring| OR: 50| D

25/1

1/32 overall record is hardly encouraging, and though he has gone close at this course in the past much more is needed now in a first-time visor.

Form: 707208

(8)

Frank The Barber^b,t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Nicola Currie⁽⁷⁾| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 50| D

10/1

Much better on all-weather than turf, but most form is on Polytrack/Tapeta, so difficult to know how he will fare on this surface, and others hold more convincing claims.

Form: 343037

(10)

Coiste Bodhar^p¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: L Morris| T: S Dixon| OR: 49| CD

9/2

C&D winner but generally probably slightly better on turf, though could fill one of the places given how he has performed here the last twice (including over this trip two starts ago).

Form: 003364

(9)

Excellent World^t⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: D Fentiman| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 46

7/1

Denied by only a neck in a C&D maiden two starts ago. Not so good at Newcastle last time but the return to this course is obviously a help and she's considered.

Form: 044025

(12)

Red Flute²¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Keelan Baker⁽⁷⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 45| D

8/1

Regressed in his last few runs when trained by Denis Quinn. Could bounce back now for a new trainer with his apprentice rider taking off 7lb.

Form: 332667

(11)

Chillililli^b²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Jane Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 45

10/1

Out-ran her 100/1 price to finish third over C&D last time but she was sent off at those odds for a reason and difficult to see her repeating that level of form (or even bettering it) this time.

Form: 760803

(4)

Very First Blade^b,e/s⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 45| CD

20/1

Dual C&D winner in his prime but nowhere near his best this year, and racing from 1lb out of the handicap won't do his chances any help here.

Form: 878780

Forecasts

Coiste Bodhar (9/2), Archie Stevens (11/2), Excellent World (7/1), Krystallite (8/1), Red Flute (8/1), Chillililli (10/1), Frank The Barber (10/1), Racing Angel (10/1), Ballesteros (12/1), Pearl Acclaim (16/1), Jorvik Prince (16/1), Very First Blade (20/1), Novabridge (20/1), Men United (25/1)

A 6lb penalty for winning here last week won't make things easy for ARCHIE STEVENS by any means, but that was a nice victory and he could well build on it at a course he clearly enjoys. Paddy Pilley has done well on the horse recently, including that win, and utilising his 3lb claim once again he looks set to run another big race. Excellent World ran well in a maiden over C&D recently and is another to consider, while Novabridge didn't perform fantastically here last time, but may still bounce back to the form of a third placed finish here on his penultimate start.