12:45 Southwell

Thursday 10 January 2019

All12:4513:2013:5514:2515:0015:35

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 12:45 | Winning time: 2m 37.46s

(5)

Toboggan's Fire³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Ella McCain⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 75

50/1

Not seen on the Flat since late 2017 he's been running exclusively over hurdles since then but comes here as a Fibresand virgin. Weighted 4lb below his last winning mark on the level he would be of interest if he can act on the unique surface.

Form: 740680/

(2)

Azari^b1²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Rossa Ryan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 73| CD

4/1

A combination of an ease in grade plus a much-reduced mark along with a switch to Fibresand appear to have been the catalysts behind his last time out C&D win. That ended a long losing run (needs to back up his win); blinkers now added to help.

Form: 540091-

(4)

Princess Harley³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Charles Bishop| T: M Quinn| OR: 69| CD

4/1

Consistent sort of this surface (213) with the victory coming over C&D reverting to maiden company after proving her effectiveness on the surface in a prior handicap. Ran with credit last time but may well have found the 1m6f trip here too testing.

Form: 634213-

(6)

Scrafton¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Poppy Bridgwater⁽⁵⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 66| C

6/1

Has won on Fibresand (most of his form on the surface is poor); two of the poorest efforts coming over this trip. Win here came over 1m6f as have his latest two victories both at Wolverhampton; struggles for consistency, not expected to follow up.

Form: 359561-

(1)

Sleepy Haven^p⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 8-10| J: J Fanning| T: J Candlish| OR: 58| BF

10/1

Not seen on the Flat for well over two years (only win came in 1m2f seller; second only run here); been running over hurdles since (last win came in 2016). Despite the losing run he has run some decent races; quite well weighted on his hurdles form.

Form: 442144/

(3)

Love Rat^v¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁵⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 63| CD

5/1

Only win on this surface came over this trip last time; rest of his form here has a rather uneven profile. May well have been helped by a first-time visor (got a very forceful ride); all out to win and chances are he may not be in the same form.

Form: 095961-

(7)

Saint Mac¹¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: A Mullen| T: M Appleby| OR: 58

5/2

Lightly-raced for his age his standout effort came here over 2m for his former yard and he's only been seen once since then (same trip but on different AW surface). Now with a new yard/back from a break; of interest if positive in the market.

Form: 09925-

Forecasts

Saint Mac (5/2), Azari (4/1), Princess Harley (4/1), Love Rat (5/1), Scrafton (6/1), Sleepy Haven (10/1), Toboggan's Fire (50/1)

A modest handicap to open proceedings with Azari looking to back up his win here last time with first-time blinkers going on in a bid to eke out some more improvement after he just scrambled home last time. Love Rat was another last time out C&D winner but he received a very hard ride from today’s pilot (subsequently banned) and he’s not sure to be in the same form. Saint Mac for a yard that does well here should be noted in the market but PRINCESS HARLEY gets the vote back at this trip after finding 1m6f too testing. Sleepy Haven is well weighted on his hurdles form and can’t be ignored.