15:30 Southwell

Friday 29 December 2017

All12:1512:4513:1513:5014:2515:0015:30

Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 2m 24.6s

(1)

The Lock Master^v⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 9-11| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 62| CD

20/1

Has plenty of form around here with nine course wins to his name (three over C&D). Has now slipped 7lb below his last winning mark and may have looked more like his old self last time and if he can repeat that run he would be in with a chance down in grade.

Form: 689067

(7)

Dream Magic⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: A Mullen| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 59

5/2

Got himself off the mark last time out and in the process ended a cold spell for his yard showing much improved form taking advantage of a falling mark. Had run poorly on the run prior to that on his first try on this surface and that throws up question marks on his return here.

Form: 240001

(5)

Masterful Act²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 9-8| J: T Eaves| T: J Balding| OR: 59| CD

14/1

Used to be a real Fibresand monster and in far better grade than this but that was a far while ago now and debateable if he is capable of the same form now off a much lower mark. Well held here last time off a 5lb higher mark and despite the falling mark he's passed over here.

Form: 2-86886

(4)

Go On Gal^p¹²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Milly Naseb⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 57| C

15/2

Had shown a liking for Fibresand prior to winning here last time at the 22nd attempt and basically travelling better than the field for longer. That was over a furlong further and she's gone up 7lb for that win so has to improve again to follow-up.

Form: 384551

(8)

Mangata³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 60

25/1

Last seen on the Flat on the AW/turf in France but was beaten in claimers over there and has so far only run over hurdles in GB (pulled-up all three starts). Would be something of a surprise winner here given his form so far.

Form: 975084

(12)

Ingleby Spring¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Sebastian Woods⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 54

13/2

Bounced back to form in an amateur riders handicap on turf in October taking advantage of a much lower mark than for her last success. Ran one of her better races since when making her debut here over a mile; should be suited by this trip and a sound gallop.

Form: 871624

(10)

Star Ascending^b⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Rossa Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 53| BF| CD

11/8

Appears to have come into his own of late over C&D winning on his penultimate start taking advantage of a mark 8lb below his last winning one. Maybe didn't deserve to be odds-on when beaten last time out although still ran well and goes off the same mark here.

Form: 455412

(2)

Pindaric^p³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Cam Hardie| T: A J Lockwood| OR: 51

33/1

His second to Ingleby Spring with the cheekpieces back on at Redcar over 1m2f was just about his best effort of the year but he failed to build on that here over a mile last time (debut on surface). Looks to have a tough task both in terms of form and how he has taken to Fibresand.

Form: 570828

(11)

Ambuscade⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Rob Hornby| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 45

40/1

Offered very little so far in three handicaps having shown modest form in maidens when with her previous yard. Tried over 1m2f last time out and steps up again in trip here stepping out into Fibresand for the first time; sire is 2/13 here so far.

Form: 696/0-99

(6)

Crakehall Lad^v¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Jason Hart| T: A Crook| OR: 45| C

66/1

Was in much better form when winning on his debut on this surface off a mark of 67 and it shows how much he has regressed as he now runs off a mark of 46. His subsequent form here reads 65467 and although he might have needed his last run he's not one to be making excuses for.

Form: 722980

(3)

Master Of Song^p⁶⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 8-9| J: K T O'Neill| T: S R Bowring| OR: 45| C

22/1

A five-time winner here he has twice won over further (all wins off higher marks also) and he took a step back in the right direction last time albeit over a trip (6f) that was much too sharp. Will be suited by this return to further and lurks on a very dangerous mark here on a surface he acts on.

Form: 055-803

(9)

Monzino⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 8-9| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: M C Chapman| OR: 45| C

50/1

Despite being a dual winner here he's made very little impact this year although he wasn't disgraced when plodding in to finish 4th here over a mile last time out. Often slowly away he's not the most straightforward these days and will struggle to get involved even off this lowly mark.

Form: 376404

Forecasts

Star Ascending (11/8), Dream Magic (5/2), Ingleby Spring (13/2), Go On Gal (15/2), Masterful Act (14/1), The Lock Master (20/1), Master Of Song (22/1), Mangata (25/1), Pindaric (33/1), Ambuscade (40/1), Monzino (50/1), Crakehall Lad (66/1)

Only a low-grade finale although there are a few that could make an impact in this and INGLEBY SPRING having shown that she acts on the surface looks as though she has some scope to improve some more of this mark and over this trip. Star Ascending has also been in good form of late and he should run well again off the same mark as last time having shown that he acts well on this surface. The Lock Master and Master of Song have combined for 14 wins between themselves at Southwell and both have fallen to marks where they are dangerous to ignore and could play a part here. Go On Gal will have to show further progress to follow-up her win here last time and so will Dream Magic who also has to prove that he can act on this testing surface.