12:40 Southwell

Wednesday 3 January 2018

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

Betway Amateur Riders' Handicap

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 3m 43.84s

(6)

Stoneboat Bill¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Miss S M Doolan⁽³⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 62

10/1

Given another try here after looking unsuited by the surface on his first try here last time out. Often gets well behind in his races and that never really helps here and it's well over a year now since he's won with this trip looking to stretch his stamina.

Form: 557428-

(9)

High Kicker¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Alex Ferguson| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 56

11/2

Makes her debut on Fibresand having got back on track at Dundalk last time out over 1m4f (travelled well) off this same mark. She has won twice on turf off lower marks over staying trips and of interest if she takes to unique surface with a good amateur booked.

Form: 344272-

(5)

Ormskirk¹⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 54

50/1

Makes his debut for this trainer and on this surface having been sold for £2,200 in November. Has mixed running over hurdles and on the Flat of late without much success and now returns from a break with questions to answer; sire has a very poor record on this surface.

Form: 03/6000-

(3)

Bohemian Rhapsody^p¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 54

25/1

Looks very well treated on his old Flat form and has looked to be working his way back in his last few runs (last two over hurdles). Could well be of interest if he can continue that progress and takes to this new surface with his pedigree giving hope that he acts on it.

Form: 8/77054-

(4)

Chestnut Storm³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr C A Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 53

25/1

Her last three runs back from a break haven't really shown that much and having run poorly when last seen on the Flat she did much the same over hurdles last time. Has finished second on her only run over C&D off a 6lb higher mark; hopes pinned on that run.

Form: 4/26490-

(10)

Tynecastle Park¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Mr R Birkett| T: R Eddery| OR: 52

5/2

Has run here twice with a second over this distance being his best run but that was in a pretty poor contest. His most recent Flat run at Chelmsford over this trip was a rather lack lustre one and the only real positive here is the booking of a good amateur.

Form: 88/6725-

(8)

Shine Baby Shine³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 57| BF| CD

9/4

Took advantage of a really poor race and a lowly mark to score on her debut on Fibresand and returns now after a stiff hurdling test last time out. Clearly suited by this surface and despite the 10lb rise she has to be in the mix here for a stable that are in good form.

Form: 769612-

(7)

General Allenby^b,e/s,h²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Mr Will Pettis⁽⁵⁾| T: H Tett| OR: 54| D

13/2

May have needed the run last time out when returning from eight weeks off having finally won on his previous start at Catterick off a 3lb lower mark relishing a similar trip to today. Makes his debut on this surface now with the sire having a good record here.

Form: 242317-

(1)

Benissimo³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Jessica Cooley⁽³⁾| T: A Forbes| OR: 47| D

25/1

Didn't run badly on his last Flat start at Wolverhampton (paid for a big move into contention) and was probably better than his final placing. Below form over hurdles last time and now tackles this unique surface for the first time with his pedigree not giving many clues about his effectiveness on it.

Form: 470877-

(2)

Thackeray¹⁴⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: Miss Becky Smith| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 45

66/1

0/10 here although he has been placed on five occasions and has a third to his name over this trip. His form over the summer was only modest though and 18 plus months since he won a race and even at this level a place may be the best he can hope for again.

Form: 430200-

Forecasts

Shine Baby Shine (9/4), Tynecastle Park (5/2), High Kicker (11/2), General Allenby (13/2), Stoneboat Bill (10/1), Bohemian Rhapsody (25/1), Benissimo (25/1), Chestnut Storm (25/1), Ormskirk (50/1), Thackeray (66/1)

The return to this surface for SHINE BABY SHINE is a positive having shown that she enjoyed the Fibresand when winning easily in a poor race here in the summer. She’s now 10lb higher but this isn’t a much better contest and she could bounce back for the Phil Kirby team that have been going well of late. Of the others there are a few that are of interest if they take to the surface with the most interesting being High Kicker who has shown some decent AW form in Ireland and she should be noted in the market. Both the well-handicapped Bohemian Rhapsody and General Allenby have chances if they take to this surface while Benissimo isn’t totally out of this on his last Flat run.