16:25 Southwell

Tuesday 30 January 2018

All13:4014:1514:5015:2515:5516:25

sunbets.co.uk Handicap

Off time: 16:26 | Winning time: 1m 40.8s

(3)

Sooqaan⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 58| CD

7/4

In cracking form and chasing a hat-trick of C&D wins after a decisive 3½L success under a penalty last time. Up another 4lb this time but if he arrives in the same mood he will take some stopping.

Form: 401-711

(7)

Street Poet^p1³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: R Winston| T: M Herrington| OR: 59

11/4

12-race maiden, but beaten just a neck at Newcastle from 1lb lower in November and would have claims on that basis. Out of sorts on Fibresand debut last time, but cheekpieces may help and not ruled out.

Form: 077625-

(4)

Rivers Of Asia^b1¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R Kingscote| T: Martin Smith| OR: 56

9/2

0-17 to date, though has run some sound races on the Polytrack elsewhere. This is his debut on this surface, but he looks to be on a very competitive mark if he can handles it and blinkers could also provide an added boost. Possibilities.

Form: 05040-4

(2)

Canford Thompson⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 55

8/1

Well held in both previous starts on this surface, including last time out on stable debut, when 15L fourth from this mark. Well handicapped on some of the form he showed for Mark Walford in 2016 and a market move would be interesting.

Form: 723/90-4

(6)

Royal Holiday^p⁵⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 9-0| J: Barry McHugh| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 52| CD

20/1

Has won here seven times, six over C&D, though the last of those was over two years ago. Form (and with it his mark) has been on the slide for over a year now and not easy to make a convincing case for him on recent evidence.

Form: 090680-

(8)

Simply Clever¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: P J McDonald| T: D H Brown| OR: 48| D

22/1

Her sole win from 23 starts was on turf at Wetherby (1m) in 2016, when 7lb higher. Acts reasonably well here, though her best form is at Wolverhampton and although feasibly handicapper, she could find a few too good.

Form: 7088-39

(9)

General Tufto^b⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 8-7| J: Joey Haynes| T: C Smith| OR: 45| CD

7/1

His 15 course wins dwarfs even the record of Royal Holiday here and this wonderful servant has defied age to make the frame twice recently behind Sooqaan. 4lb better off for 3½L with him from last time, but probably insufficient to turn the tables.

Form: 05-9532

(1)

Caledonian Gold^b¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: A Mullen| T: P W D'Arcy| OR: 45

20/1

25-race maiden who has failed to get home when previously tried over this trip and looks up against it once more against specialist milers.

Form: 4454-36

(5)

Zarkavon^v¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 45

100/1

Has shown next to nothing in any of her 11 starts and beaten 26L over C&D by Sooqaan last time. Impossible to make a case for her.

Form: 90787-9

Forecasts

Sooqaan (7/4), Street Poet (11/4), Rivers Of Asia (9/2), General Tufto (7/1), Canford Thompson (8/1), Caledonian Gold (20/1), Royal Holiday (20/1), Simply Clever (22/1), Zarkavon (100/1)

Support for Canford Thompson would be interesting here as it is not that long since he was going close from higher marks. However, connections look to have found a good opportunity for SOOQAAN to complete a hat-trick under a penalty for his authoritative success last time. Street Poet, Rivers Of Asia and Southwell stalwart General Tufto are others who should not be too far away.