15:00 Southwell

Tuesday 19 December 2017

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

sunbets.co.uk Handicap

Off time: 15:04 | Winning time: 1m 29.52s

(6)

Ticks The Boxes^p³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: T Eaves| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 66| C

14/1

Has put plenty of crosses into the box without scoring since taking a 6f Newcastle claimer for Michael Herrington in March. Falling slowly back to a more competitive mark, and won his last handicap from 1lb higher here in December 2016 (6f).

Form: 320735

(1)

Hernando Torres^p,t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Ryan Timby⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 63| D

33/1

Versatile in terms of trip, but generally strongest at around 1m. A decisive scorer from a similar mark at Hamilton in July, he's yet to break his Southwell duck, but was staying on to finish seventh of 14 to Malaspina over C&D latest.

Form: 028787

(10)

Ubla^p⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: L Morris| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 62

9/2

Both of his career successes have come over 1m on Polytrack (Kempton and Lingfield), but he wasn't beaten all that far when just out of the placings behind Shearian (fourth) over 1m here earlier in the month. Chance.

Form: 726343

(7)

Queens Royale^v¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: R Winston| T: M Appleby| OR: 62| CD

11/1

Beat the progressive Chaucer's Tale by 1¼L (made all from a wide draw) when scoring over C&D last month. Just 4lb higher now, and possibly worth chancing that her latest Chelmsford effort is best ignored.

Form: 341017

(2)

Unnoticed^t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: A Mullen| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 62| D

12/1

Holds few secrets from the handicapper and in truth finds winning races extremely challenging. Runner up to Custard The Dragon from a 3lb higher mark over C&D in February, and most likely needed the run here last month (first start in 9 months).

Form: 9-25278

(9)

Noble Ballad^b³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: G Lee| T: R M Beckett| OR: 61| CD

9/2

Picked up from off the pace to take a Class 6 C&D handicap three starts back (late August) from a 4lb lower mark. Not exactly built on that since, but wasn't too far from the principals when fifth to Monsieur Jimmy latest (1m).

Form: 9-88105

(4)

Big Amigo^e/s¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: P J McDonald| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 59| C

8/1

Won three times at this track earlier in the year (all over 6f), and gave notice that he was edging back to form from a more favourable mark latest when 5½L fourth to Bold Spirit (C&D).

Form: 070594

(5)

Seaview¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Aaron Jones⁽³⁾| T: D H Brown| OR: 59| CD

11/1

Off the mark on handicap debut over C&D in January, but has regularly found another horse stronger since (four time runner up). Another runner who is becoming more attractively weighted, so the market is probably worth monitoring.

Form: 250468

(3)

Fortinbrass²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Shane Gray| T: J Balding| OR: 57| CD

16/1

No stranger to success at this track (5/28), and a dual winner here during 2017 (6f and 7f). On the premises when fifth to Kommander Kirkup over 6f last month, and a 1lb lower today.

Form: 195065

(8)

Best Tamayuz^p⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon| OR: 55| CD

11/4

Hasn't won on the AW since late 2014, when he notched a trio of Southwell victories (6f to 1m), so you'd perhaps question his overall resolution. That said; he returned from 12 months off with a most pleasing 2¼L third to Mach One (1m) last week.

Form: 89443-3

Forecasts

Best Tamayuz (11/4), Ubla (9/2), Noble Ballad (9/2), Big Amigo (8/1), Queens Royale (11/1), Seaview (11/1), Unnoticed (12/1), Ticks The Boxes (14/1), Fortinbrass (16/1), Hernando Torres (33/1)

A low grade and rather open looking handicap. Unnoticed finds winning races difficult, but he has some fair course form in the bank, including when beaten a nose by Custard The Dragon in December 2016 (Best Tamayuz third), and he can be expected to be stronger after making his first start for nine months in November. Queens Royale is a progressive three-year-old, and although the winning run ended last time at Chelmsford, she could prove a totally different proposition from the front end back at this track, whilst Big Amigo is another to consider; albeit he looks strongest over 6f. In an otherwise tough race, a token selection is the Gay Kelleway trained UBLA. He is yet to win on anything else other than Polytrack, but crucially this surface also appears to hold no fears, and he looks very strong stamina wise.