14:55 Southwell

Tuesday 13 February 2018

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

Betway Stayers Handicap

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 4m 10.81s

(8)

Caged Lightning^p¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: S Gollings| OR: 72| C

7/1

Dual winner here over 1m6f, those wins coming back-to-back in 2015 and only raced once here since. Gradually worked his way back to fitness after an absence and proved himself when winning over 2m two starts back; interesting runner upped in trip.

Form: 27/641-6

(2)

Argante^b⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-13| J: Fran Berry| T: H Spiller| OR: 71

6/1

A Flat winner when trained in France, he's yet to score on the level in GB (has won over hurdles; 2m4f) but ran a respectable race over 2m at Chelmsford last time. Not bred for this surface and others preferred.

Form: 0835/3-3

(10)

Lady Makfi²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: S Donohoe| T: J Farrelly| OR: 70

12/1

Has shown some fairly useful form on the Flat in handicaps but hasn't won for getting on 18 months now although she has crept back down to a winnable mark. Has to settle better than she did last time but the sire has a 20% strike-rate here and she's of interest.

Form: 4620-48

(11)

Ruler Of The Nile¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Shepherd⁽³⁾| T: R Stephens| OR: 64| C

6/1

Has now got back to a mark that he can win off and has shown that he acts on this surface. Below form last time out under an over aggressive ride and has something to prove, particularly from a wide draw such as this.

Form: 64442-0

(5)

Cousin Khee^b¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 9-5| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁷⁾| T: H Morrison| OR: 63| C

8/1

Has won and been placed here but has looked less and less cooperative of late, racing well off the pace last time when placed over 1m6f. Should be suited by a stamina test such as this but his attitude is a worry.

Form: 56642-3

(12)

Katie Gale⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: R Brisland| OR: 62| C

12/1

A three-time winner on the Fibresand, she's shown very little coming back from a break in three runs with two of them coming here. Well below form over 2m here last time out and given her recent form, best watched for now.

Form: 325506-

(9)

Thankyou Very Much^b,t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: Josephine Gordon| T: J D Bethell| OR: 56

4/1

Fair handicapper who has shown up well over jumps and on the Flat, finishing runner-up over 2m on the AW last time although she was favoured by the run of the race. Has twice run well enough here and should stay the extra 2f; looks competitive.

Form: 48/27-22

(3)

The Lock Master^p¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 8-11| J: A Mullen| T: M Appleby| OR: 55| C

6/1

Needs no introduction around here having won nine times on the surface but has never tried a trip this far. His recent form of late hasn't really been that of old though and others offer more.

Form: 0676-42

(1)

Rock Of Leon^p¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: Jason Watson⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 52| D

8/1

Been around various yards since last seen on the Flat (2015) when with Dan Skelton and has only been seen over jumps since. Runner-up in a selling hurdle last time and given his first try on Fibresand here (sire has a poor record on the surface).

Form: 342138/

(7)

Rajapur^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: J Fanning| T: D Thompson| OR: 51

14/1

Given a stiff task on his first outing on this surface (raced from out of the handicap) but ran poorly after winning on turf the time before. Has had two hurdles runs since then (produced a good effort last time) and now runs off his proper mark returned to Fibresand.

Form: 788014-

(6)

Poppyinthepark^h³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 47

33/1

Upped in trip since being transferred to this yard and tried in a hood but faces a stiff task here from 4lb out of the handicap over a new trip. Yet to win a race and hard to see her changing that here.

Form: 04558-6

(4)

Can Can Dream^b¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-3| J: Noel Garbutt⁽³⁾| T: Olly Williams| OR: 45

66/1

Her three runs here have so far shown little that would offer hope of her winning something like this. 6lb out of the handicap here and others offers more.

Form: 970/0-78

Forecasts

Thankyou Very Much (4/1), Ruler Of The Nile (6/1), Argante (6/1), The Lock Master (6/1), Caged Lightning (7/1), Cousin Khee (8/1), Rock Of Leon (8/1), Katie Gale (12/1), Lady Makfi (12/1), Rajapur (14/1), Poppyinthepark (33/1), Can Can Dream (66/1)

This 2m2f on Fibresand is going to prove a real test and a lot of these who have previous form on this surface look to be struggling a little at the moment. Caged Lightening is one with form on the surface who looks as though he should be able to cope with this trip and he doesn’t look badly weighted. Cousin Khee has looked a hard ride of late and it may well be that THANKYOU VERY MUCH is the one to side with here over a trip that will suit.Argante gets his first taste on Fibresand and looks one of the more interesting types from that group along with Lady Makfi by a sire who has a good record here.