12:45 Southwell

Thursday 21 December 2017

All11:4512:1512:4513:1513:4514:1514:5015:25

sunbets.co.uk Handicap (Div 2)

Off time: 12:45 | Winning time: 1m 44.25s

(3)

Little Choosey^t,v1¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Kevin Lundie⁽⁵⁾| T: S R Bowring| OR: 53| D

25/1

Certainly not in the same sort of form as she was in 2016 (won three times) but has eased back down the weights of late. Ran poorly last time out without her usual tongue-tie which returns here along with a first-time visor; 0/10 on this surface though and others more chance.

Form: 798540

(1)

African Showgirl³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jane Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: I Furtado| OR: 53| D

14/1

Scored back-to-back turf wins in the summer of 2016 off higher marks but hasn't really figured of late on the AW including here. Has shown that she acts on this surface though with a couple of places and this looks her grade these days.

Form: 36-0590

(8)

Gunner Moyne^v¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: P J McDonald| T: Emma Owen| OR: 52| CD

12/1

Does have a win to his name in this grade over C&D when with Gary Moore and shaped quite well on his first run for this yard recently at Chelmsford. Finished well there and may well be suited by further these days but not one to totally leave out of calculations.

Form: 930097

(6)

Sunshineandbubbles^p⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Rossa Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 51| BF

12/1

A career record of 1/26 is hardly a bet compelling one with her only win coming in a maiden on Polytrack over 1m2f when with her previous yard. Had run two decent races (without headgear) for this yard before disappointing with the cheekpieces back on last time; may do better.

Form: 753446

(4)

Breaking Free^p¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: T Eaves| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 51| CD

9/2

Consistent sort on Fibresand (2541) showing improved form to get off the mark last time beating a well-treated rival to put up a career best. Raised 6lb for that C&D win he now has to prove he can back that up but looks one of the more plausible options in this.

Form: 286541

(5)

General Tufto^b²⁰⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 9-3| J: Joey Haynes| T: C Smith| OR: 49| CD

16/1

Surely needs no introduction around here having won here 15 times with 13 wins over C&D. Still looks a hard ride though and often gets behind and needs a strong pace to run at; ran poorly away from here last time. Hard to win with these days but you can't ignore his record here.

Form: 223460

(10)

Why Me^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: M Harley| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 47

5/6

Irish raider who was well backed on his debut on Fibresand last time out over 7f and unlucky to bump into an improver. Takes a slight drop in grade (back up in trip) now with a tongue-tie back on and should go close to breaking his maiden if repeating his last run.

Form: 004732

(11)

Limerick Lord^p¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Shelley Birkett⁽³⁾| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 46| CD

12/1

Now "defending" a long losing run that stretches back to December 2015 when he won over C&D off a mark of 60. Performs now off a much reduced mark and may have needed the run over 7f in slightly better grade last time; well handicapped on his old form.

Form: 843526

(7)

Roger Thorpe¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: Jack Duern⁽³⁾| T: J Balding| OR: 45| CD

25/1

Another one that comes here with a two year losing run on his CV his last win coming over C&D off a 9lb higher mark. May well have needed the run here last time over 5f (trip too short) and now reverts to a more suitable trip but hardly a solid proposition.

Form: 26-7080

(9)

Madakheel^p1¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: J Quinn| T: S G West| OR: 45

100/1

Cheekpieces go on for the first time with the usual tongue-tie once again left off. Ran poorly here last time after a fair absence and despite the fact she needed that run it's hard to construct much of a case for her.

Form: 07949-0

(2)

Can Can Dream⁴⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: S H James| T: Olly Williams| OR: 45

100/1

The only one in the field not to have run on Fibresand before with the sire having a modest record on the surface. This will be her first run on the AW but she hinted at very little in maidens and on her handicap debut and would be a surprise winner.

Form: 070970-

Forecasts

Why Me (5/6), Breaking Free (9/2), Sunshineandbubbles (12/1), Limerick Lord (12/1), Gunner Moyne (12/1), African Showgirl (14/1), General Tufto (16/1), Little Choosey (25/1), Roger Thorpe (25/1), Can Can Dream (100/1), Madakheel (100/1)

As with the first division of this 0-55 handicap there isn’t much strength in depth and BREAKING FREE may well be able to follow-up his C&D win of last time given how he travelled and won on that occasion. His biggest danger looks to come from the Irish challenger Why Me who ran well enough here last time out to be given a good chance again. General Tufto could more than likely run round here blindfolded but he looks a difficult ride these days and bigger dangers are likely to be the well-handicapped Limerick Lord and Gunner Moyne who may appreciate further but has won here in the past.