14:20 Southwell

Tuesday 9 January 2018

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

Betway Handicap

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 1m 15.26s

(3)

Siege Of Boston^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 82

7/1

Won three AW handicaps last year (all over 7f) the last off a 5lb lower mark than he runs off here. Below form when last seen in mid-December and now makes his first start on this surface; sire has had a couple of winners here but they both came from the same horse.

Form: 113046-

(5)

Hammer Gun^v⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: P Mathers| T: D Shaw| OR: 79| BF| C

9/2

Cashed in on a falling mark when winning over 7f here in mid-December off a 3lb lower mark and failed to follow up over this trip on his next start (all his wins here have come over 7f plus). Turned in a poor effort last time and this 6f trip causes further doubts.

Form: 40014-7

(7)

Jack The Truth⁶^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Fran Berry| T: George Scott| OR: 67| CD

7/4

2/2 on this surface with his first win coming over this trip in a maiden (started favourite) before he followed up in a relatively weak 5f handicap last time. Progressing well and should be able to handle the step back up in trip under a penalty; leading chance.

Form: 421-1

(2)

Newstead Abbey^b⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: T Eaves| T: M Herrington| OR: 67| CD

8/1

Looks to have taken well to this surface and won a claimer over this trip on his initial run here making the running to win comfortably. Back into a handicap last time he ran a creditable race off this mark going with zest and could make a bold bid from the front.

Form: 47081-4

(4)

Kommander Kirkup^p⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: A Mullen| T: M Herrington| OR: 66| BF| CD

7/2

112 are his form figures over C&D and connections may be rueing the fact that they didn't give him a go here earlier in his career. Had his winning run ended last time but did travel well until caught on the line; should go well again off the same mark.

Form: 72011-2

(8)

Red Stripes^b¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁷⁾| T: L Williamson| OR: 63| CD

20/1

Just the one win to his name at the track but generally runs well at the track although he's out of the handicap here and over a trip that looks to stretch him. Will be better off eased in grade and back to 5f.

Form: 533623-

(1)

Samovar^b⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon| OR: 65

14/1

Making steady improvement on this surface and has run all bar one of his four career starts on Fibresand. Blinkers and the switch to handicaps saw him turn in another good performance last time out although that did come in a 0-70 and this is far tougher and against his elders for the first time.

Form: 746-2

Non-Runners

(6)

Born To Finish⁴

Weight: 9-13| Age: 5

T: J A Osborne J: D C Costello

Forecasts

Jack The Truth (7/4), Kommander Kirkup (7/2), Hammer Gun (9/2), Born To Finish (6/1), Siege Of Boston (7/1), Newstead Abbey (8/1), Samovar (14/1), Red Stripes (20/1)

A much more competitive race than JACK THE TRUTH has run in so far but he looks to be a progressive sort and should be able to handle this crew back up in trip under a 6lb penalty. Kommander Kirkup is the main danger who is looking to get back on the winning trail having been narrowly touched off last time out. Hammer Gun is likely to find this trip too sharp back at 6f with Newstead Abbey dangerous if he gets away on the front end having gone well here last time.