14:40 Southwell

Wednesday 3 January 2018

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

sunbets.co.uk Handicap

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 1m 28.82s

(7)

Captain Lars^v⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-11| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁷⁾| T: D Shaw| OR: 81| BF| C| D

10/1

3/11 on the Fibresand he's never run at this trip although he has run and won over a mile here. A winner here over 6f at the end of last year turning in his best performance of late he wasn't disgraced over 5f here last time bit will appreciate this return to this trip although the mark demands more improvement.

Form: 991615-

(1)

The Great Wall⁵^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: A Mullen| T: M Appleby| OR: 72| BF| CD

1/1

Looks to be another shrewd purchase by these connections who have had success with similar types. No surprise given his pedigree that he was able to win easily over C&D on Fibresand/stable debut (very weak maiden). Now goes handicapping but could be well in front of this mark of 78.

Form: 8241-

(5)

Lady Perignon³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 77

4/1

A fall in the weights helped her win an Epsom handicap on her 5th attempt in that sphere although she had shown up well in previous handicaps. Easy to back on her one run here in October off a mark of 78; should run her race but not that well weighted.

Form: 801434-

(3)

Bouclier²³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Ryan Timby⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 77| D

100/1

Two runs here have shown very little and he ran no sort of race at all here last time out over this trip turning in a very laboured effort. Has won on the AW but on a very different surface to this one and looks set to struggle again on this unique surface.

Form: 300090-

(2)

Letmestopyouthere¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Fran Berry| T: P D Evans| OR: 75| D

11/1

Looks to be operating below his best at the moment and the losing run now stretches back exactly a year when he won off a 10lb higher mark on Tapeta. Had his first experience of Fibresand last time but could only manage a modest 5th and faces a tough test here.

Form: 327665-

(6)

Bold Spirit^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 72| CD

8/1

In good form at the moment running his last four races here and returning form figures of 2412. The last three runs have all come over C&D and he was only beaten by an in-form last time out; runs off his highest Fibresand mark here but has to be respected even up in grade slightly.

Form: 292412-

(4)

Zaeem³³

Age: 9| Weight: 8-12| J: P J McDonald| T: I Furtado| OR: 68| CD

10/1

Capitalised on the drop in grade last time to win a C&D seller looking well suited to returning to this surface. Has won before over C&D and in this grade off a 12lb higher mark; not sure if he is capable to running to that level now but can't be totally written off.

Form: 659431-

Forecasts

The Great Wall (1/1), Lady Perignon (4/1), Bold Spirit (8/1), Zaeem (10/1), Captain Lars (10/1), Letmestopyouthere (11/1), Bouclier (100/1)

There is a real chance that THE GREAT WALL could be a long way ahead of his mark here on this surface at least and although he beat very little last time out and this is tougher it was hard not to like the way he won and the alacrity that he showed on Fibresand. Captain Lars looks to face a tough task giving weight all around here but this trip should suit him far better than the 5f he tried last time. Both Bold Spirit and Zaeem have found their form on this surface of late but this is harder than their recent task and Lady Perignon might not have much in hand off this mark despite having shown she can handle this surface.