14:10 Southwell

Thursday 25 January 2018

All13:0513:3514:1014:4515:2015:55

Betway Handicap

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 58.41s

(7)

Pearl Acclaim^p¹¹^{(ex 6)}

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: Tom Marquand| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 71| CD

13/2

Looks a resurgent sort and his record over C&D now reads 1121 and his win last time out came in a better grade than this. He's shown himself to be a versatile sort in terms of tactics and whilst he'll need to improve again off a 4lb higher mark he's hard to ignore in this.

Form: 5112-81

(3)

Zylan¹³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Ben Sanderson⁽⁷⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 76| CD

4/1

Came good here in April last year winning twice over C&D and defends an unbeaten record here coming back from a break. Didn't run that well when last seen in September on heavy ground at Thirsk and well above his last winning mark here although has won off this high on turf.

Form: 005860-

(6)

Decision Maker^t⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: R Winston| T: S R Bowring| OR: 70

11/4

Has twice run well here in C&D maidens and is now given a try in handicaps on this surface which looks to suit him. May find this a little too warm though and might just need an ease in grade before he can win in handicaps around here.

Form: 28242-2

(4)

Crosse Fire^v²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon| OR: 70| CD

11/2

Quite a while since he's been seen in this grade and he is now back under his last winning mark in this surface by 5lbs although that win came over 6f. It's a long time since his last win though but at least he does have more of a chance than of late.

Form: 30844-4

(2)

Something Lucky^v⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 54| CD

11/4

Looks to be in the form of his life at the moment having won his last two although he takes a fair rise in grade here having won under a penalty last time out over C&D. Now 4lb higher patient tactics in a well run race would look to be the key to him and he may not be finished yet.

Form: 225-211

(1)

Archimedes^p,t⁹⁹

11/1

Had a fairly busy summer winning at Bath over 5f in July off a 3lb higher mark but making relatively little impression after that win. Now returns from a break to give his trainer a second shot in this having been a surprise winner of this last year off a mark of 61; has had a wind operation.

Form: 598590-

Non-Runners

(5)

Scuzeme¹⁰⁷

Weight: 9-12| Age: 4

T: T D Barron J: B A Curtis

Forecasts

Something Lucky (11/4), Decision Maker (11/4), Zylan (4/1), Scuzeme (9/2), Crosse Fire (11/2), Pearl Acclaim (13/2), Archimedes (11/1)

Trainer David Griffiths has two decent runners in this with last year’s surprise 20/1 winner Archimedes on the comeback trail and his better chance is held by the resurgent PEARL ACCLAIM who now has a C&D record that reads 1121 and won in better grade than this last time. He won’t have it all his own way though with Something Lucky on the up and he may well be able to cope with this grade after winning with a bit to spare last time out. Zylan who needs to bounce back, Crosse Fire and Decision Maker all add to the mix in what looks a competitive sprint.