14:35 Southwell

Thursday 3 January 2019

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

Betway Sprint Handicap

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 58.89s

(5)

Fethiye Boy²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: R Harris| OR: 68| D

16/1

Tough start on the Fibresand as he takes on nine C&D winners having looked as though he needed his stable debut after a break last time. Does feature on a good mark if taking to the surface and being ridden with more restraint than last time.

Form: 8/80555-

(6)

Crosse Fire^p⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁵⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 68| CD

7/2

Won this race in 2016 (6-time C&D winner); not won for a while but is well handicapped on the AW (below his last winning mark). Showed enough on his return last time to be considered in a race his yard have a good record in.

Form: 265735

(4)

Come On Dave^e/s³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 9-6| J: Tim Clark⁽³⁾| T: P W D'Arcy| OR: 67| CD

22/1

First run for the yard and a C&D winner in the past but had a disappointing 2018; ended the year out of sorts. Has started to look rather half-hearted in his efforts of late and not one to rely on in this company.

Form: 440908-

(2)

Mininggold^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 65| CD

11/4

Consistent with her form here (321) and turned in an improved effort over C&D last time with a couple of today's rivals back in 3rd and 4th. Made all on that occasion but could face some pace pressure this time in a better class of race and up 7lb.

Form: 743261-

(3)

Pearl Acclaim^p⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 65| CD

20/1

Three-time C&D winner from 11 starts here although he appears rather below form at the moment. This is a drop in grade though and he has a good mark to work with if he does have the ability to bounce back to his best.

Form: 208607-

(8)

My Name Is Rio¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: Barry McHugh| T: J J Davies| OR: 65| CD

14/1

Only had a couple of runs on Fibresand and those have bookended his career at the moment (scored her on his debut over this trip). Hasn't won for a while now but has dropped a long way in the weights; ran well enough over C&D last time.

Form: 000995-

(7)

Razin' Hell^v⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: J Balding| OR: 65| CD

7/1

Another one who has very decent form on Fibresand (twice C&D winner; seven-time winner here overall) who must be respected despite a long losing run. Shaped very encouragingly on Tapeta last time; 18lb below his last winning mark here.

Form: 508009-

(11)

Warrior's Valley^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 63| CD

16/1

Ran well on his first two starts here winning on his debut over this trip and shaping as though he would be better for the run over C&D last time after 6 months off. Raced a little too close to a strong pace and only weakened late on.

Form: 238359-

(9)

Fink Hill^b¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Charles Bishop| T: R Spencer| OR: 63| CD

20/1

Didn't really need to improve to get off the mark in a C&D novice and this looks a tougher test based on the evidence of his subsequent two starts. Tried over 6f here last time but will need to show more to make his mark here.

Form: 004169-

(10)

Piazon^b,e/s¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Nathan Evans| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 62| CD

10/1

Not the most straightforward individual but is a 6-time C&D winner and hard to write off on his favoured surface. 3rd over 6f last time to two that go equally well on this surface his previous win over a subsequent winner (Mininggold 3rd) reads well.

Form: 060713-

(1)

Decision Maker^v1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: E J Walsh⁽³⁾| T: S R Bowring| OR: 56

7/1

Given a chance by the handicapper of late having started last year on a mark of 70 but he looks as though he's struggling to take advantage. Ran respectably here last time (3rd to Mininggold); visor on first time but others appeal more.

Form: 060043-

Forecasts

Mininggold (11/4), Crosse Fire (7/2), Decision Maker (7/1), Razin' Hell (7/1), Piazon (10/1), My Name Is Rio (14/1), Warrior's Valley (16/1), Fethiye Boy (16/1), Pearl Acclaim (20/1), Fink Hill (20/1), Come On Dave (22/1)

Tough to rule out anything here with a cornucopia of C&D winners on display with Crosse Fire victorious in this race in 2016 (the 3rd win in this for his trainer). He’s slipped to a mark he can win off but he’s not as well handicapped as RAZIN’ HELL who looked on the way back last time and is 18lb below his last winning mark. My Name Is Rio and Warrior’s Valley are two other to keep an eye on in the market both appreciate this surface are on good marks and better than their finishing positions here last time. Mininggold needs to find some improvement to justify her place in the market off a 7lb higher mark while the enigmatic Piazon (2nd in this in 2017) can’t be ignored.