14:20 Southwell

Thursday 18 January 2018

All12:2012:5013:2013:5014:2014:5515:3016:05

Betway Handicap

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 1m 13.72s

(7)

Handsome Dude^b³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: B A Curtis| T: T D Barron| OR: 85| D

11/2

The most reliable individual although he did manage to post good back-to-back efforts in the summer winning the second of them over 6f at Haydock. Lightly raced since then but got back on track over C&D last time (helped force pace) finishing third.

Form: 821003-

(4)

Tricky Dicky³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Patrick Vaughan⁽⁷⁾| T: Olly Williams| OR: 84| BF| CD

11/4

Has a superb record over C&D (1122) and a return to the Fibresand has sparked him into life again. Another who likes to get on with things and likely to do so again here; yet to run a poor race on this surface although he is 10lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 173522-

(3)

Pearl Nation¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: A Mullen| T: M Appleby| OR: 83| C| D

14/1

This surface holds no fears for him with a record of 4/11 here although his two recent good runs here have come in a lower grade than he faces here. Took a claimer last time out over a mile but will find this a lot tougher over a trip that he's never won over.

Form: 7/2827-1

(2)

Aleef^t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: M Harley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 83| BF| D

4/1

Just the one previous run here saw him finish third in a 5f 0-90 handicap where he moved into the race well but shaped as if 6f is more his trip these days (had won over 6f the time before). Kept to 5f last time but now stepped back up to 6f; likes to race prominently.

Form: 5041-36

(6)

Eccleston^v³³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: P Mulrennan| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 81| D

7/1

Makes his Fibresand debut but it may be business as usual with him when he makes late inroads and catches the eye without winning. With that sort of profile it's not hard to see how he's not won since August 2015 and faces a stiff enough task here.

Form: 260336-

(5)

Letmestopyouthere³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Fran Berry| T: P D Evans| OR: 75| BF

7/2

Looks the sort who might make the most of a declining mark soon in a slightly lesser grade as he does act on this surface. Has run well enough here if late (might be better over further) although he wasn't in the same form last time out.

Form: 7665-23

(1)

Alpha Tauri⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 9-2| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁷⁾| T: C Smith| OR: 75| CD

16/1

Produces his best form around here and ran with credit in a 0-90 handicap here last time out and would have a chance on that run. Can be very in-and-out though and not the type to hold his form for that long.

Form: 8007-33

Forecasts

Tricky Dicky (11/4), Letmestopyouthere (7/2), Aleef (4/1), Handsome Dude (11/2), Eccleston (7/1), Pearl Nation (14/1), Alpha Tauri (16/1)

The best race on the card in terms of quality and one that should be run at a good pace given that a few of these like to go forward. Tricky Dicky has always shown his form around here and excels on the surface and it won’t surprise to see him go close again here. Handsome Dude has a little ground to make up on Tricky Dicky but looked to take to this surface last time out and should go well again. Pearl Nation is another quite at home on this surface although this grade may test him now and the vote goes to ALEEF who should be suited by this 6f having travelled well over a furlong shorter before here and that extra distance should suit.