12:55 Southwell

Sunday 17 December 2017

All12:2512:5513:3014:0514:3515:0515:35

Suzanne Gilbert 50th Birthday Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:56 | Winning time: 5m 38.36s

Farm The Rock^t⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 111

9/2

Non Runner.

Form: 2474-52

Big Bang De Loire²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: G R I Smyly| OR: 111

12/1

Had some fair form over fences when trained in France and fair to think that the race was probably needed after a long absence. Showed he had some ability in that run and this outing will likely reveal more, although he could require some headgear.

Form: 56242/4

Weyburn^t⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: M Keighley| OR: 110| CD

10/1

Got off the mark in a weak race over hurdles here last year over today's trip and made his chasing debut straight after that win. That remains his only outing over fences to date (unseated rider) but was still in the mix when doing so and may be able to make an impression off this mark.

Form: P1/U73-6

Barton Rose³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Paul O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 109| CD

6/1

Had a good opportunity to open her account in May (very weak small field handicap) but did make amends after a break in September off a 5lb lower mark. Shaped well once after that but ran very poorly last time and not one to go wild about here.

Form: PP-2130

Shanty Town^p1³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: G Sheehan| T: David Dennis| OR: 109

11/4

Only narrowly beaten last time out he looked to have a good opportunity at Hereford yesterday with cheekpieces on for the first time. Travelled well for much of the race before a late error put paid to his chance; respected if he takes his chance here (had a fairly hard race).

Form: 3435-02

Rocknrollrambo⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams| OR: 108

10/1

In good form over fences earlier in the year completing a handicap hat-trick with the last win coming off a mark of 105. Ran well after that in better grades and will have benefitted from a recent pipe opener (never dangerous); usual tongue-tie/cheekpieces still left off.

Form: 111-229

Cash Again³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 106

20/1

A fair hurdler when with Paul Nicholls despite never winning in that sphere he's now trying to rebuild his career with this yard and hinted at a revival on his chasing debut last time out. Just needs to tidy up his jumping but he's very well handicapped on his old form if he comes to life.

Form: 430-576

Midnight Gem¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 105

12/1

Finally matched her hurdles form over fences on her third attempt in the sphere and looks something of a slow burner over the larger obstacles. Jumps well enough and did so again last time at Leicester but still finished well held and may need some more time.

Form: 2-F7726

Hepijeu^p⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: M D Grant| T: G Deacon| OR: 103| D

7/1

Hardly a frequent winner and remains 3lb above his last winning mark but did looks to be coming back to some sort of form last time over 3m. Ridden with more restraint than usual there and may well be better over this shorter trip and a return to more forcing tactics.

Form: 225422

Mondo Cane^p¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: A Pogson| T: C T Pogson| OR: 98| CD

14/1

Looked as though he retained all his ability when returning from an 18 month break recently but went backwards from that return on his next outing. Easy to back on that occasion and jumped poorly; never landed a blow and has a question mark against him now.

Form: 52/PP-46

That's The Deal¹³

Age: 13| Weight: 11-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: J R Cornwall| OR: 98| CD

16/1

Came back to form from out of the blue when winning at Huntingdon in October making all off a 7lb lower mark. Has shaped well enough since then off this sort of mark but looks to be struggling to win off a mark (98) such as this.

Form: 356144

Forecasts

Shanty Town (11/4), Farm The Rock (9/2), Barton Rose (6/1), Hepijeu (7/1), Weyburn (10/1), Rocknrollrambo (10/1), Big Bang De Loire (12/1), Midnight Gem (12/1), Mondo Cane (14/1), That's The Deal (16/1), Cash Again (20/1)

It remains to be seen if Shanty Town takes up this engagement after running at Hereford on Saturday where he had a fairly tough outing and that may tell on him here if her does run. ROCKNROLLRAMBO is the obvious one in this contest to build on his reappearance run where he shaped well although it is rather worrying to see his usual headgear combination still left off. Weyburn looks capable of making his presence felt off this sort of mark and Hepijeu will appreciate a return to this trip and his more usual forcing tactics. Cash Again is of interest at bigger prices having shown much better form over hurdles in the past and the change of stable/discipline may see a rejuvenated performance.