14:20 Southwell

Tuesday 13 February 2018

All14:2014:5515:2516:0016:3017:00

Betway Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 2m 39.3s

(8)

Star Ascending^b⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Edward Greatrex| T: J Candlish| OR: 60| CD

5/2

Could not have been in better form around here of late with the form of his last five runs reading 12211. Beat some very modest rivals last time out but did so in easy fashion and despite the penalty, he's hard to ignore here; travels well.

Form: 4122-11

(10)

Akkadian Empire^p¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 67

4/1

Has one decent effort to his name over C&D off this mark although his finishing effort there left a little to be desired (carried head awkwardly). No match for the winner in a Wolverhampton claimer last time out (raced freely) and this mark may test him again.

Form: 277-622

(1)

French Mix¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Jason Watson⁽⁷⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 65| D

14/1

Makes her first visit to the Fibresand having been well below form on her first start for this yard at Lingfield. Has scored in an AW (Dundalk) handicap before but off a much lower mark and it remains to be seen if she can bounce back on a new surface.

Form: 16447-4

(3)

Oceanus⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Shelley Birkett| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 63

12/1

Another newcomer to Fibresand from a yard that has a decent record with their runners here. Winner of a turf selling handicap late last year off a 3lb lower mark but his sire is yet to have a winner here from a limited number of representatives.

Form: 1036-63

(2)

Ingleby Spring²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Sebastian Woods⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 61| C

8/1

Went one better than on her debut here when appreciating the 1m3f trip on her second start off a mark of 54. Stiffer task last time in a better race over C&D than she faces today when she was a little too keen and disappointed; each-way chance.

Form: 16241-5

(9)

Di's Gift^h⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Kevin Lundie⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 60

16/1

Ran well over C&D on Fibresand/stable debut for a yard that does well with this type but the trip does look on the short side despite an appealing mark. Failed to make an impression over further last time at Wolverhampton but was left poorly positioned; one to be interested in here over further.

Form: 0668/38

(6)

American Craftsman^p⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 61| D

14/1

Yet to run on this surface and has been hurdling of late showing some fair form (won on his debut). His two Flat runs for this yard have been poor so far and he's still above his last winning mark; sire has a modest record here and he may be best watched for now.

Form: 651556-

(12)

Velvet Voice¹⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Gary Mahon⁽³⁾| T: M H Tompkins| OR: 61

16/1

Has just one piece of reasonable handicap form to her name and now reverts to handicaps and a new surface having been well beaten in a maiden last time. Would need to show a lot more to take a hand here and her sire has a poor record on Fibresand.

Form: 78/9285-

(5)

Leonard Thomas^v1⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 53

11/2

Has run here twice now and both those outings have seen him perform with credit although he has been rather slowly away on both occasions. Had very little chance from a poor track position last time out behind a runaway winner and may fare better here; visored first-time.

Form: 0-73235

(4)

Picture Painter^b1³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Rowan Scott| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 50

10/1

Only had one run on the Flat for this yard (winner over hurdles for them on stable debut). Appeared to stay 2m last time in a modest Wolverhampton handicap and drops in trip for first try on Fibresand; worth a market check in first-time blinkers.

Form: 53357-3

(11)

Benissimo^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: Jack Duern| T: A Forbes| OR: 45

33/1

Ran poorly when making his debut here on his penultimate start and this winning hurdler remains a maiden on the Flat. Well held on his return to hurdling last time out and looks hard to fashion a winning case for him here.

Form: 70877-6

(13)

Monzino⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 8-7| J: Phil Dennis| T: M C Chapman| OR: 45| CD

33/1

Has twice won here (once over C&D) but that was a long time ago and despite faring a little better than of late last time, he remains one to be wary of.

Form: 48-8893

(7)

Tilly Devine^b²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁷⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 46| C

20/1

Surprise winner in first-time blinkers here last December off this mark when a 100/1 shot (made all) over a mile. Shown nothing remotely approaching that form since over shorter trips and now stepped up to 1m4f for the first time; best watched here.

Form: 0155-75

Forecasts

Star Ascending (5/2), Akkadian Empire (4/1), Leonard Thomas (11/2), Ingleby Spring (8/1), Picture Painter (10/1), Oceanus (12/1), French Mix (14/1), American Craftsman (14/1), Di's Gift (16/1), Velvet Voice (16/1), Tilly Devine (20/1), Monzino (33/1), Benissimo (33/1)

Despite a double-figure field going to post this doesn’t look the strongest of events in terms of depth and it should give STAR ASCENDING a good chance of extending his winning run of form on a surface that he acts well on. Leonard Thomas had no chance in a race at Newcastle last time out after a slow start but a repeat of either of his two previous placed efforts here would put him in with a chance. Likewise Ingleby Spring, who showed up well when winning here and may well appreciate the slightly easier grade this afternoon. Di’s Gift is another to enter calculations especially off this mark although he could do with a stiffer test of stamina to show his best.