14:25 Southwell

Tuesday 13 March 2018

All13:1013:4514:2515:0515:4516:2517:00

Betway Handicap

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 2m 35.82s

(8)

Sean O'Casey^h⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: A Mullen| T: M Appleby| OR: 73

9/1

Two races in two days in late January didn't appear do him much good and he ran poorly on both occasions returning from a hurdles run. Now makes his debut on Fibresand after a break back up in trip and hard to know what to expect.

Form: 9935-47

(7)

X Rated⁸⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁷⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 74

9/2

Not seen on this surface before although his sire has a decent record here so that's a positive sign. His form since his last win has been steady enough and that's seen his mark stay much the same; still 2lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 604734-

(1)

Cry Wolf^p³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: F Norton| T: H J Evans| OR: 73

8/1

Given his sire (Street Cry) he ought to act on this surface but he comes here off the back of some modest hurdles efforts. Certainly wasn't on a going day when last seen and best treated with caution.

Form: 84/27-0

(2)

Star Ascending^b⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: J Fanning| T: J Candlish| OR: 72| CD

2/1

The Fibresand has very much been the making of him and he's been in cracking form the surface of late although the handicapper may have got him now. Runs off the same mark here that he was beaten off last time; place chance.

Form: 2-11114

(6)

Epitaph^b⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: M Appleby| OR: 73| CD

7/2

Another who has plenty of form on Fibresand over varying trips but is starting to look no more than averagely handicapped. Beaten off marks of 70 plus in his last four starts and may need an ease in the weights again.

Form: 512533

(4)

Sonnetist^p1⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Paddy Bradley⁽⁵⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 72| C

11/1

Showed his best form for a while when winning on his debut on this surface but ran no sort of race here last time out when seemingly amiss. Reared leaving the stalls and never travelled and may be best watched today.

Form: 61-2305

(9)

My Renaissance¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: Jane Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: S England| OR: 63| CD

20/1

Twice a C&D winner with the last win coming off this mark he's a dual hurdles winner since then. Returned from a four month break last time and probably needed the run and should strip fitter here and one to note.

Form: 115657-

(3)

Arabian Oasis¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Noel Garbutt⁽³⁾| T: L McJannet| OR: 59

33/1

A useful handicapper previously he looks to have slightly lost his way and despite falling in the weights only ran respectably last time. Now makes his Fibresand debut but others make more appeal.

Form: 0/498-57

(5)

Leopard¹²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Robbie Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 53

40/1

First time on this surface and 7lb out of the handicap are a couple of obstacles that will see him as an outsider here. Ran with some credit when last seen for Tony Coyle but hard to fancy on his first run for a new yard at these weights.

Form: 689383-

Forecasts

Star Ascending (2/1), Epitaph (7/2), X Rated (9/2), Cry Wolf (8/1), Sean O'Casey (9/1), Sonnetist (11/1), My Renaissance (20/1), Arabian Oasis (33/1), Leopard (40/1)

A few of these have a tough task off their current marks and there are others for whom the surface is an unknown. The first group would include Star Ascending and Epitaph both of whom looks as though they have been caught by the handicapper. Sean O’Casey and X Rated have to prove themselves on the surface although the latter of that duo has a pedigree that suggests he should act on Fibresand. It may therefore pay to take a chance on dual C&D winner MY RENAISSANCE who should be fine off this mark and strip fitter after his pipe opener recently after a four month break.