14:00 Southwell

Thursday 3 January 2019

All12:5513:3014:0014:3515:1015:45

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 1m 15.86s

(6)

Mr Strutter¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Oliver Stammers⁽⁷⁾| T: Ronald Thompson| OR: 67| CD

7/4

Most of his form on synthetic surfaces looked modest in relation to his turf form but he proved to be well suited by Fibresand last time over this trip. Forged clear to beat course specialist First Excel; close between those two at the weights now.

Form: 327541-

(9)

Point Zero^b²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 67| BF

5/1

Frustrating sort who at least broke his run of 2nd here last time out but not in the way connections would have wanted; finished 4th and was a beaten favourite again. Now steps into handicap company for the first time on Fibresand; caution advised.

Form: 29222-4

(5)

First Excel^b¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: E J Walsh⁽³⁾| T: S R Bowring| OR: 66| BF| CD

9/2

Continues to run well here (1711622) with the two disappointing runs coming over 7f and he again ran well over C&D last time despite being beaten by Mr Strutter. The revised weights give him a chance if he settles better on the lead this time around.

Form: 050322-

(4)

Always Amazing⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mathers| T: D Shaw| OR: 65| D

10/1

Has had two attempts now on the Fibresand (both over 5f) and looked short of pace in both of them and not appearing to love the surface. Now tried over 6f (best effort came over this trip) but others make more appeal.

Form: 9/40009-

(8)

Liamba⁷⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: C J McGovern⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 63| BF

9/1

Suited by this surface when 2nd over C&D in August (only try on Fibresand) in a slightly better race than this. Gained reward for her consistency when winning a big-field handicap at Ayr in September (ran well when last seen); interesting contender.

Form: 292212-

(3)

The Golden Cue¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Toby Eley⁽⁷⁾| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 61

14/1

Fibresand debut (sire has a 10% strike-rate here) having shaped well enough in his last two runs over sprint trips on the Tapeta. Last win came at Nottingham in October (5f, soft) off a 1lb lower mark; chance if taking to the surface.

Form: 918056-

(1)

Grise Lightning¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Barry McHugh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 60| D

9/1

Won on her first trip back from a wind op (Hamilton 6f novice) having been off for 11 months and has now been given a chance by the handicapper (rated 78 at best). Shaped quite nicely last two AW starts; interesting if she acts on Fibresand.

Form: 579450-

(2)

Archimedes^p,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 58| C| D

20/1

Four-time course winner but all his wins have come over 5f and this trip appears to stretch him and he's unlikely to find this a eureka moment at 6f. He's well treated now off this mark and worth looking out for when reverting to 5f on Fibresand.

Form: 240554-

(7)

Blistering Dancer²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 8-7| J: David Probert| T: A W Carroll| OR: 45| D

50/1

A career-record of 2-64 hardly has you rushing to support him and the losing run now stretches to 28. He's 6lb out of the weights here and his form at the track (29258) means he's easy enough to leave alone here.

Form: 845375-

Forecasts

Mr Strutter (7/4), First Excel (9/2), Point Zero (5/1), Liamba (9/1), Grise Lightning (9/1), Always Amazing (10/1), The Golden Cue (14/1), Archimedes (20/1), Blistering Dancer (50/1)

Two old rivals in Mr Strutter and First Excel meet again here after the former was successful just before Xmas when they clashed over C&D. It should be close between the pair again with First Excel capable of extracting his revenge if he settles better in his usual prominent role this time. Point Zero steps into handicaps for the first time on Fibresand but this sphere is unlikely to cure his propensity to finish weakly. LIAMBA gets just her 2nd try on this surface having looked well suited by it so far and if she’s ready to go after a break a big run is expected. This trip tends to stretch Archimedes who resides on a good mark while Grise Lightning is of interest if she acts here.