13:40 Southwell

Wednesday 3 January 2018

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

Betway Handicap

Off time: 13:41 | Winning time: 1m 16.03s

(5)

Awesome Allan^t¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Fran Berry| T: P D Evans| OR: 66| D

6/1

Scored in back-to-back Redcar 6f sprints towards the end of the turf season off a 4lb lower mark each time and has run respectably on the AW since. 5f looked a little sharp for him last time out at Lingfield (still ran well) and now returns to 6f on his first try on Fibresand.

Form: 211494-

(7)

Kommander Kirkup^p¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: T Eaves| T: M Herrington| OR: 66| CD

9/4

Appears to have found his form again since making a belated move on to Fibresand winning both his starts over C&D. Now up a further 3lb from his last win here but has won and run well off higher marks on turf in the past and should go well in his hat-trick bid.

Form: 972011-

(4)

Vroom^b¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 66| CD

9/1

A course regular who is 3/12 on his visits and 2/9 over C&D although his last two runs here have been way below his normal form on Fibresand. Sandwiched between those two runs was a win at Wolverhampton over 6f when well backed and taking advantage of a falling mark.

Form: 655617-

(3)

Berlios³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 65| C

7/2

Fair performer when trained in Ireland who returned to form on his first outing here in early 2016 in a 5f maiden for a previous yard. Below that form in all four runs for this stable having only had a couple of runs since but does run off a career low mark now if bouncing back.

Form: 270070-

(1)

Run With Pride⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mathers| T: D Shaw| OR: 65| BF| D

6/1

Ran no sort of race on his only previous start here but that did come in a much better grade than this (0-95). Not the most reliable but still capable off marks such as this and has run and won in his last few starts; not totally written off despite his previous run here.

Form: 06/9172-

(6)

Tellovoi^b¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 9-5| J: Jack Osborn⁽⁷⁾| T: R C Guest| OR: 63| C

10/1

Is capable of some reasonable form on occasions but that appears to come on his terms and he's not one to trust totally (often slow away). Has won twice here but has only run twice over this trip and on balance is hard to select with any confidence.

Form: 952663-

(8)

Viva Verglas¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Toby Eley⁽⁷⁾| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 60| CD

14/1

Has gone well here in the past and is a dual C&D winner but his last two starts here have looked rather moribund and lack lustre. Did run well enough on his penultimate outing at Wolverhampton off a 1lb higher mark and lurks below his last winning mark if he did return to form.

Form: 508725-

(2)

Angel Palanas^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Russell Harris⁽⁷⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 59

20/1

If his debut effort here last time out is anything to go by he's going to face a tough task here even with the handicapper dropping him a couple of pounds. Now tried over 6f rather that the 5f last time out but looks to have a tough task based on what he's shown of late.

Form: 243427-

Forecasts

Kommander Kirkup (9/4), Berlios (7/2), Run With Pride (6/1), Awesome Allan (6/1), Vroom (9/1), Tellovoi (10/1), Viva Verglas (14/1), Angel Palanas (20/1)

It looks as though KOMMANDER KIRKUP has been revitalised and rejuvenated by this surface and having been successful in past on higher marks on turf the 3lb rise for his last win here shouldn’t prove to be a hindrance to his chance of completing a hat-trick. If he does take to the surface second time around then Run With Pride is interesting as he’s been capable of much better in the past but there is a risk involved on Fibresand. Awesome Allan makes his Southwell debut with his pedigree giving some hope that he’ll handle the surface and he can’t be ruled out. Both Vroom and Viva Verglas have won here in the past and while neither has shown up here that well of late it would be dangerous to leave either out of the equation.