17:00 Southwell

Tuesday 13 March 2018

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

Betway Live Casino Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 2m 38.06s

(8)

Ochos Rios⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Harry Burns| T: P D Evans| OR: 60| C

11/10

Can often be tricky away from the stalls and in the early part of the race but often finishes very strongly and did just that last time out. That was his first run back with his initial yard and will run well if his quirks don't hinder him.

Form: 033/1-52

(9)

Di's Gift^p1¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Kevin Lundie| T: M Appleby| OR: 57

11/4

Has yet to have things go his way in four runs for this yard (needs a strongly run race) and certainly should be able to make an impression off this mark. Can start slowly and probably better over further than 1m4f but hard to ignore; cheekpieces on.

Form: 68/3832

(1)

Miss Danby¹¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrew Breslin⁽³⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 58

50/1

Still with a powerful stable after looking out of sorts for most of last summer and not seen since running poorly on the AW in November. Yet to try Fibresand and returns from a break so a watching brief looks best.

Form: 2/67900-

(7)

Albert Boy⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Gabriele Malune| T: S Dixon| OR: 47| D

9/1

Made his debut on the surface on his return to action and offered little despite finishing third but making it all look very hard work. This looks harder and he makes only limited appeal.

Form: 93739-3

(3)

Simply Clever^p1⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Jason Watson| T: D H Brown| OR: 46

22/1

Her last three runs have been here with the last two coming over this trip but she faces a similar task to last time and that proved beyond her. Cheekpieces now go on for the first time but more needed.

Form: 8-39635

(4)

Clayton Hall^p,t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 45

16/1

Not really one to trust despite having shown glimmers of ability on a few occasions now. Has not looked an easy ride on several occasions and his quirks need to be kept in check if he's to have a chance.

Form: 9-64250

(5)

Clock On Tom¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: Jordan Uys| T: B Leavy| OR: 45

50/1

Returned to the Flat after a spell hurdling last time he never really landed a blow after a slow start. Just out of the handicap now and his previous try on this surface fails to inspire any confidence in his chance.

Form: 99900-0

(2)

Tilly Devine^b⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Theodore Ladd⁽³⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 46| C

10/1

First-time blinkers saw her spring a big surprise to win here over a mile and she's run exclusively on Fibresand since and had once run well over this trip. Hard to say that she has a leading chance here but may be able to snatch a place.

Form: 5-75728

(6)

Reason To Believe¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Poppy Bridgwater⁽⁵⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 45

11/1

A 25/1 chance when making her debut on Fibresand over this trip she ran as well as could be expected. Two subsequent starts have seen her run with a little credit but she's essentially a moderate sort.

Form: 04-3424

Forecasts

Ochos Rios (11/10), Di's Gift (11/4), Albert Boy (9/1), Tilly Devine (10/1), Reason To Believe (11/1), Clayton Hall (16/1), Simply Clever (22/1), Miss Danby (50/1), Clock On Tom (50/1)

Not a race that has much strength in depth and it’s two rather quirky slow starters that hold the key to this race. Ochos Rios should probably have won more than he has but his antics at the start (not so bad last time) have made life a little awkward for him and his main rival DI’S GIFT is preferred. He’s not totally straightforward either but he does feature off a good mark and the first-time cheekpieces may keep him on the straight and narrow this time. Beyond those two there isn’t that much solid form to be found amongst the field and Tilly Devine, Miss Danby and Simply Clever are three that could compete for the minor honours.