17:30 Southwell

Tuesday 15 May 2018

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

N & L Franklin Developments Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 5m 15.40s

Too Many Diamonds⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 102| D

11/4

Second run after having a recent wind operation, rose through the ranks last year, winning four times before the handicapper finally got hold of him. Ground fine but best form to date has come at shorter. Yard still going well, though.

Form: 113724-

Mondo Cane^b²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: A Pogson| T: C T Pogson| OR: 97| CD

10/1

Infrequent winner, tends to fine less than expected when push comes to shove but at least had a ready excuse for a poor show last time as the trip was too far. Unlikely winner, but may hit the frame.

Form: 3U2328-

Pierlow^p²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs D Grissell| OR: 96| D

33/1

Well beaten in point-to-points this year, showing little in the process, and hard to fancy back under Rules today.

Form: R5/55P4-

Little Jimmy^p,t³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: R T Dunne| T: T R Gretton| OR: 90| BF| D

10/1

Plenty of places to show for his efforts over the last few months but finds getting his head in front hard. Best form has come with more cut in the ground than he's likely to get today and he may, once again, be playing for places at best.

Form: 442233-

Global Domination^p,t³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 88| C

11/4

Had been threatening to get his head in front for a while and came good at Fakenham last time, although it wasn't plain sailing and he had to be cajoled along at times. Obvious chance from 3lb higher but may not be one to trust.

Form: 632321-

Shaiyzar^p¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: D Thompson| OR: 85| C

9/1

Two wins from 50 starts rather tells you all you need to know, although in the plus column he does go well here (a win and three placed efforts from eight starts). This trip on the short side though, and hard to fancy for the win.

Form: 52832-8

St Merryn²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: B R Summers| OR: 80

9/2

Wasn't going anywhere until turning in a better effort at Exeter last time, staying on well late in the day to grab third (well clear of rest) and worth a try at this trip. One of the more interesting ones.

Form: 0693P3-

Darloa^p,t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Conor Shoemark| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 77

22/1

Yet to win in 18 starts but is at least unexposed over fences and ran a little better than his finishing position suggested at Taunton last time. May improve a little on that and despite that win record, isn't totally discounted.

Form: PP/7296-

Lost In Newyork²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: N Kent| OR: 71

25/1

One win in 45 starts, so no win machine, but does have a few placed efforts to his name that would give him half a chance off this mark. Poor win record means you surely have to look elsewhere for the winner.

Form: 272/766-

Next Exit^t⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 10-0| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁵⁾| T: J R Cornwall| OR: 61| D

66/1

Well into the veteran stage, has caused the odd big-priced shock in the past and may appreciate the return to fences but very hard to fancy from out of the handicap.

Form: 68878-5

Forecasts

Too Many Diamonds (11/4), Global Domination (11/4), St Merryn (9/2), Shaiyzar (9/1), Little Jimmy (10/1), Mondo Cane (10/1), Darloa (22/1), Lost In Newyork (25/1), Pierlow (33/1), Next Exit (66/1)

A moderate contest for the money and anything with an ounce of improvement left to come needs taking seriously. With that, it's worth giving ST MERRYN a try as he shaped like he'd got more to come when third at Exeter last time. This step up in trip is likely to be beneficial and he can take this. Darloa has plenty of risk attached but went better on his chase debut and wouldn't need a lot more to be competitive here. Old Mondo Cane and Shaylzar find winning hard but can fight out third prize.