13:55 Southwell

Tuesday 23 January 2018

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:10

Betway Handicap

Off time: 13:56 | Winning time: 1m 15.81s

(11)

French^v1¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 62| D

15/2

Having run well in first-time blinkers last time out she's now tried in a visor for the first time having shaped well at Wolverhampton last time out. Now just 1lb above her last winning mark this will her Fibresand debut with her sire having a reasonable record here; chance if she acts on surface.

Form: 50773-2

(6)

Aragon Knight¹³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 62

6/1

Makes his stable/Fibresand debut having had just the one run for his previous yard (Daniel Steele) when he ran no sort of race at all. He does take a drop in grade here though from a career-low mark and given his connections it won't surprise to see a move for him in the market.

Form: 7/73789-

(4)

Hisar^b⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 56| BF| D

10/3

One of two runners from this yard and like his stable mate he makes his Fibresand debut here having run poorly in two starts since winning over 6f at Wolverhampton under a strong ride from today's rider. Needs to get back on track here but respected given his connections.

Form: 4341-57

(13)

Jack Blane^p¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P Makin| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 56| D

10/1

Another newcomer to this surface (stable have done well with first-timers on the surface) he's twice a winner at Wolverhampton last year (once for this yard). Didn't run that well last time out (rare below-par effort) but he's not the most frequent winner.

Form: 9251-40

(8)

Fortinbrass²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: D C Costello| T: J Balding| OR: 55| CD

7/1

A five-time winner here with a 4-22 record over C&D and he is back on a winning mark (last win came off 61) if he could take advantage. Had looked to be working his way back to full fitness but just looking to be falling short at the moment; mark tempting but needs to show more.

Form: 50656-5

(9)

Scotch Myst²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 53| CD

9/2

Has form figures around here of 2123 (213 over C&D) and has proved to be a very consistent individual on Fibresand and certainly ran into an improver (Declamation) last time in a minor event. 3lb below his last winning mark here and has to be respected on his record here.

Form: 030843-

(2)

Sir Geoffrey^b¹⁴⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 9-3| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon| OR: 52| CD

25/1

Another one who really doesn't need to prove his effectiveness on this surface being an eight-time winner on it (3-9 over C&D). His form can be rather erratic though and he's not getting any younger as he comes back from an extended break.

Form: 587728-

(5)

Harbour Patrol¹⁰⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: D Fentiman| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 50| D

33/1

Appeared to take to the surface on his one previous try here over 7f but did end the season in rather a lull and needs to bounce back here having had a break. His last win came off a 2lb lower mark and he may be best watched over this trip.

Form: 134045-

(10)

Be Bold^b¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Jason Hart| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 48| D

25/1

Two runs here before have hardly set the pulse racing and he hardly looks a natural on the surface. Wasn't totally disgraced on the Newcastle Tapeta last time out over 5f and he'll appreciate this return to 6f but he's hardly reliable and previous effort here leave question marks.

Form: 45678-8

(7)

Deben¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: J R Weymes| OR: 45

12/1

Two runs here have shown that he acts on the surface but they have come in lowly grade and he had his limitations exposed last time out at Chelmsford over this trip. Despite the drop to a basement mark he may come up short again with a place the best he can hope for.

Form: 2869-43

(3)

Knockamany Bends^h⁹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: Hollie Doyle| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 45

50/1

An unpredictable sort he did manage two turf wins last season over 5f and now returns to a surface where he's run respectably in the past (6335). Back from a break here and looks likely to need the run and others preferred.

Form: 129910-

(1)

Blistering Dancer^p¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: Mitch Godwin⁽³⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 45| D

16/1

Ran better than for quite some while on his recent Fibresand debut over this trip on a 0-50 handicap running into a smart one for the grade. This is a slightly tougher grade but he's off the same lowly mark and a repeat of that run would see him go close here.

Form: 06908-2

(12)

Classic Flyer^b,h²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: E J Walsh⁽³⁾| T: Mrs C A Dunnett| OR: 45| D

100/1

Only a fairly modest handicapper that is basically summed up by his mark here with his previous run here hardly giving much expectation. Ran poorly back from a break last time out and not hard to pass over here.

Form: 08577-0

Forecasts

Hisar (10/3), Scotch Myst (9/2), Aragon Knight (6/1), Fortinbrass (7/1), French (15/2), Jack Blane (10/1), Deben (12/1), Blistering Dancer (16/1), Sir Geoffrey (25/1), Be Bold (25/1), Harbour Patrol (33/1), Knockamany Bends (50/1), Classic Flyer (100/1)

A fairly low-grade affair but it features a few who are to be respected in this grade and have shown that they can act on this surface. Among that group would be BLISTERING DANCER who showed improved form here last time when running into the improving Declamation. That same horse also saw to the chances of Scotch Myst last time out but given his C&D record he has to be respected here. Fortinbrass resides on a good mark here but he probably needs to show a little more spark to take advantage of it while newcomers to the surface French and Aragon Knight need to be watched in the market particularly the latter who drops in grade off a career low mark; he’ll be dangerous if he takes to Fibresand.