13:45 Southwell

Tuesday 9 January 2018

All12:1512:4513:1513:4514:2014:5515:30

sunbets.co.uk Handicap

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 1m 41.48s

(6)

Chevallier^p³³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: L Morris| T: A Watson| OR: 90| D

15/2

Makes his Fibresand debut with the pedigree giving every hope that he'll act on this unique surface. Won back-to-back handicaps in this grade and over this trip at Lingfield early last year but didn't run much of a race last time out at Chelmsford.

Form: 198520-

(1)

London^h⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Nicola Currie⁽⁵⁾| T: P S McEntee| OR: 89| D

7/1

Just had the one previous run here (finished 6th) and he probably ran better than his finishing position suggests (did too much too soon). Had a productive 2017 but does come here off the back of a poor run last time out and 9lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 930529-

(5)

Georgian Bay^v⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: B A Curtis| T: K R Burke| OR: 88| D

6/1

Dropped down into claiming company last time out to finish second over a mile but didn't exactly look enthusiastic and went in snatches. Posted a good effort off 3lb lower mark to win at Ascot in July but this will be his first experience of Fibresand.

Form: 716072-

(9)

Poet's Society⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 86

9/1

Sire has a growing reputation on Fibresand and that augurs well for the chance of this one as he makes his debut on the surface. Needs something to pep him up as he ran badly on his last three starts after dominating a small field handicap at Yarmouth over 5f; trip an unknown.

Form: 801080-

(7)

Showboating⁵⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-2| J: D C Costello| T: J Balding| OR: 85| CD

10/1

Plenty of experience here but can be more miss than hit and it's looked that way since he scored back-to-back wins at Catterick in June. Last win here came over this trip but off a 5lb lower mark but not written off on his best form on Fibresand.

Form: 504760-

(3)

Intimate Art^p1²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 83| D

11/2

Both his wins so far have come on synthetic surfaces at Kempton and Chelmsford over 7f and a mile. Slips back down to his last winning mark here having run poorly on his last two starts and now tries Fibresand for the first time; sire has a decent record here.

Form: 030160-

(8)

Tha'ir^t1³²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: P Mathers| T: M Appleby| OR: 78

7/2

Looked to find a 0-80 too tough last time having gone close in a claimer the time before and drops back in trip to a mile. Has shown some useful form in the past but may not be up to that pay grade now and makes his Fibresand debut here; sire still to have winner on Fibresand.

Form: 005726-

(4)

Alpha Tauri⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 8-7| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁷⁾| T: C Smith| OR: 74| CD

14/1

Almost part of the furniture here having recorded 11 course victories and run here 67 times. This would be far tougher than his usual grade though and he'll need to have his sights lowered to win here again.

Form: 98007-3

(2)

Muqarred^p⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: A Mullen| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 72| CD

10/1

Usually runs well here and has two C&D victories to his name but that brace of wins have come in far easier company than this. Ran a poor race over C&D last time and will need to bounce back to have any chance here from 4lb out of the handicap.

Form: 00022-6

Forecasts

Tha'ir (7/2), Intimate Art (11/2), Georgian Bay (6/1), London (7/1), Chevallier (15/2), Poet's Society (9/1), Muqarred (10/1), Showboating (10/1), Alpha Tauri (14/1)

Unusually there isn’t a lot of Fibresand form on display here and whilst some of these are capable of good form none of them come here in much form. CHEVALLIER ran poorly last time out but his pedigree gives every hope that he’ll act here and his trainer is building a decent record at the track. Georgian Bay also comes into the mix although his finishing effort last time left a little to be desired and Showboating would need to be respected on his previous record here. Poet’s Society is very much the wild card here (never tried over this trip) but the sire (Poet’s Voice) is building a good record here and he may be worth a speculative bet. Andrew Balding is another trainer with a good record here and his Intimate Art looks as though he act on Fibresand and appears to be a better horse on synthetic surfaces.