sunbets.co.uk Handicap

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 1m 48.33s

(4)

Custard The Dragon^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: J Mackie| OR: 84

5/2

Six of her seven wins have come at Southwell. Something of a 7f specialist but has gone well here in the past and he is dropped in class. Stable have their horses in good order and his chances will improve significantly if this turns tactical.

Form: 682-173

(2)

Glory Awaits^b⁶^{(ex 6)}

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: M Harley| T: D M Simcock| OR: 78

11/4

Bounced back at Chelmsford last time and his penalty still leaves on a lower mark than when achieving some good efforts in defeat last summer.

Form: 30-0871

(1)

Dark Alliance¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Edward Greatrex| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 78| CD

15/8

Thriving for this yard, with three wins in last five starts. Still to win off a mark as high as this and likely he wants a stronger pace than can be promised here.

Form: 5-11313

(3)

Energia Flavio^p⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Fran Berry| T: P Morris| OR: 74| CD

5/1

Has only won a seller in this country and possesses an overall career record of 3-39. Handicap mark looks right but he is suited to a stronger gallop than seems likely.

Form: 200-172

Forecasts

Dark Alliance (15/8), Custard The Dragon (5/2), Glory Awaits (11/4), Energia Flavio (5/1)

Glory Awaits is the only one of these that can be said to be potentially well-handicapped given his best efforts of 2017, but he landed a Chelmsford race where there was a clear advantage to lying up with the pace. This will be a more tactical affair and one where the 7f speed of CUSTARD THE DRAGON may prove telling. All but one of his wins have come at Southwell, but he has gone well here in the past and the stable have a good strike rate in recent weeks. Dark Alliance has been in good form on the surface this winter, but Energia Flavio may want more cover and a stronger pace than he will get on this occasion.