14:55 Southwell

Tuesday 1 January 2019

All12:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

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Off time: 14:57 | Winning time: 1m 40.55s

(4)

Thechildren'strust¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: H Crouch| T: G & J Moore| OR: 77

5/4

Took well to the surface when runner-up here last time (slow start made life difficult) over 7f and this 1m may suit better. Looks to be getting back on track now and his form last time has already been franked by the winner; leading chance.

Form: 337632-

(1)

Muqarred²⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Ben Sanderson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 76| CD

22/1

Has shown all his best Fibresand form over this trip winning three times but hasn't been seen since running here last April. His last win came in a claimer and it may well be that he's in the handicappers grip off this mark back from a break.

Form: 620145-

(7)

Pearl Spectre^v⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Nicola Currie| T: P S McEntee| OR: 73| CD

12/1

Was undergoing a resurgence when striking over C&D in April benefitting from a falling mark but he's run poorly since then on other synthetic surfaces. Now 5lb below that last winning mark he needs a return here to spark him into action.

Form: 958000-

(2)

Showboating^p²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 9-6| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: J Balding| OR: 72| CD

5/1

Capitalised on a much-reduced mark to score over C&D last time but was suited by the way the race developed (slow away; came from off good pace). Now has to prove he can follow up off a 6lb higher mark; has won off higher in the past.

Form: 535721-

(5)

Tagur^p³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽⁵⁾| T: K A Ryan| OR: 72| CD

9/2

Back to form at the end of 2018 with two commanding wins albeit both were in a lower grade than he faces here. The most recent came over C&D off a 5lb lower mark (travelled well) and there's a chance he can cope with this grade while in form.

Form: 003011-

(6)

Red Touch^b¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 71| CD

12/1

His last win came over C&D in March (ended a long losing run) but he's only been seen three times since then and ran poorly on his recent AW return. Possible that he will enjoy a return to this surface (three-time winner on it); not one to trust.

Form: 7/71480-

(3)

Sooqaan^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 61| CD

16/1

Hit form early last year with a C&D hat-trick all in lower grade; struggled a little since until cheekpieces appear to have sparked a revival of late in two C&D runs. Better than his finishing position last time and dangerous if gaining an easy lead.

Form: 800628-

(8)

Duke Of Alba¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: A Mullen| T: J Mackie| OR: 61

12/1

Fair maiden who made his first start for this yard over 7f here and looked to cope with the surface well (slow away but finished with running left). This 1m trip should suit him better if he can cope with the slight rise in grade; of interest.

Form: 9/55934-

Forecasts

Thechildren'strust (5/4), Tagur (9/2), Showboating (5/1), Pearl Spectre (12/1), Red Touch (12/1), Duke Of Alba (12/1), Sooqaan (16/1), Muqarred (22/1)

A plethora of multiple C&D winners make this a tough contest to decipher with six of the eight scheduled to take part fulfilling that criterion. One who hasn’t won here but did show that can act on the surface was Thechildren’strust who was 2nd here over 7f last time to a subsequent winner; he should go well again. TAGUR will have to show that he can cope with this grade but is a dual C&D winner who travels well in his races. Both Showboating and Red Touch are enigmatic sorts who need things to fall their way to score with the former not certain to be in the same form as when winning here last time. Sooqaan is better than his latest outings would suggest; will be dangerous with a soft lead.