15:30 Southwell

Tuesday 19 December 2017

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

Betway Sprint Handicap

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 59.29s

(1)

Gnaad¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: L P Keniry| T: A Bailey| OR: 75| CD

9/4

Performed adequately despite racing over 6f here earlier this month. A dual C&D winner in the past for Robert Cowell, he takes a slight drop in grade today (Class 5), and could do better.

Form: U11765

(7)

Monte Cinq¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: T Eaves| T: J Ward| OR: 75| D

16/1

Hasn't won since November 2016 (Wolverhampton), but in truth probably hasn't been handicapped to do so on synthetics. Easing slowly in the weights, and this is more his trip than the 6f that he tackled at Chelmsford latest.

Form: 595480

(8)

Apricot Sky^p²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: A Mullen| T: M Dods| OR: 74| D

16/1

Made just his second ever AW start at Newcastle last month (5f), when finishing under 3L fourth of 13 to Casterbridge. However, he lacks consistency overall, and his most recent success came in a poor Catterick claimer in October.

Form: 073174

(4)

Kody Ridge¹¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 72

5/1

Acquired for 9,500 gns from David Dennis after winning a Leicester seller (6f) in June, and he has done well for new connections. Off since late August when beaten a neck by Yes You at Carlisle (6f), and makes just his second AW career start.

Form: 113052

(10)

Broadhaven Honey^v²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: L Morris| T: R Harris| OR: 65| CD

17/2

Bolted up on her Southwell debut last month when beating Novabridge by 3½L and ran okay under a penalty at Wolverhampton just a week later. A further 2lb higher now in a slightly stronger race (Class 5).

Form: 440014

(5)

Pearl Acclaim^p⁸^{(ex 6)}

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Tom Marquand| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 59| CD

5/1

Ended a long barren spell when driven out to account for Archie Stevens over C&D last week, and is turned out quickly under a 6lb penalty. Connections must be hopeful that he can build upon that success.

Form: 698351

(6)

Roaring Rory^p²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁵⁾| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 64| CD

10/1

Kept on strongly to land a C&D classified claiming stakes on his penultimate start, but has since finished in midfield back in handicap company at Newcastle. Possibly flattered by that recent success.

Form: 313817

(3)

Fly True^p,h¹⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: N Mackay| T: Suzzanne France| OR: 64| D

33/1

Lost her way badly for Jeremy Gask (last race was in June). Sold for 13,000 gns in mid summer, and makes a new start on a different AW surface from a fair mark; but it's very much a watching brief advised at present.

Form: 6-27886

(9)

Red Stripes^b²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁷⁾| T: L Williamson| OR: 60| C| D

10/1

Fair to say that Chelmsford is his preferred track (four victories there), but he has also won on this surface, admittedly way back on New Years Day 2015 (6f). Tends to race keenly, so could well attempt to blitz them all from the front.

Form: 155336

(2)

Angel Palanas^p⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Joey Haynes| T: K R Burke| OR: 59

10/1

Has had 15 attempts to break his duck, with a few near misses recorded. Back from a short six-week break after finishing second to Ebtida at Nottingham (5f) in early November. Untried on Fibresand.

Form: 324342

Forecasts

Gnaad (9/4), Pearl Acclaim (5/1), Kody Ridge (5/1), Broadhaven Honey (17/2), Red Stripes (10/1), Angel Palanas (10/1), Roaring Rory (10/1), Apricot Sky (16/1), Monte Cinq (16/1), Fly True (33/1)

No strong opinion in a race which fails to stimulate the imagination, therefore, we'll have a go at a horse who could offer some potential value. The recent C&D winner Pearl Acclaim is likely to be towards the fore of the market, but he's not the type you'd be keen to be backing at short odds, whilst other recent Southwell winners Broadhaven Honey (up in grade) and Roaring Rory (flattered) can also be taken on. RED STRIPES is essentially a Chelmsford horse, but he has won here in the more distant past, and it could be worth chancing that this keen going five-year-old has enough stamina in the locker to last home over this quick 5f, having raced over further as recently as Sunday at Chelmsford.