13:35 Southwell

Sunday 3 February 2019

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:50

Betway Heed Your Hunch Handicap

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 1m 19.03s

(3)

First Excel^v¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: E J Walsh| T: S R Bowring| OR: 67| CD

4/1

Running well in defeat this winter including when narrowly beaten in a C&D contest a month ago. Placed twice over 5f at Newcastle subsequently and likely to run well once more.

Form: 322-223

(6)

Kommander Kirkup^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: A Mullen| T: M Herrington| OR: 66| CD

12/1

Below par in three starts since winning over C&D at the end of November. Finished last of nine at Newcastle (6f) last time out and races off a mark 1lb higher than for that November success.

Form: 7614-69

(7)

Capla Demon^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 66| D

11/1

Good third in a C&D claiming contest on his penultimate start. Well beaten on debut for this yard over 6f at Newcastle last time out however.

Form: 51273-7

(8)

Pearl Acclaim^p⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 65| CD

14/1

Recorded a C&D victory when scoring by ½L on his penultimate outing. Struggled off this 3lb higher mark when finishing last of eight at Chelmsford (5f) subsequently but a return to this venue is in his favour.

Form: 607-518

(5)

Muatadel^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Ben Sanderson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 64| D

6/1

Returning from a short break when coming from off the pace to finish a close fourth in a 7f handicap at Wolverhampton last time out. Has won over this trip in the past.

Form: 23066-4

(10)

Poet's Pride¹⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Joshua Bryan⁽³⁾| T: T D Barron| OR: 64

6/1

Decent effort in finishing 4L fourth in a 1m handicap at Carlisle (soft) in August. Returning from a break and represents a good yard on his first start on this surface.

Form: 34/744-

(2)

The Golden Cue³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Toby Eley⁽⁷⁾| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 63| CD

6/1

First visit to this track was a winning one when successful by a short-head in a C&D handicap a month ago. Raised 2lb for that victory and is a notable runner on this occasion.

Form: 18056-1

(9)

Major Crispies²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: Ronald Thompson| OR: 62| D

40/1

Had wind surgery in the autumn but no sign of improvement when finishing 27L ninth on his return to action in a 1m handicap here last month. Drop in distance in his favour.

Form: 00177-9

(13)

Newstead Abbey^p¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁵⁾| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 61| CD

10/1

Beaten just 3L when seventh in a 7f handicap at Wolverhampton two weeks ago when returning from a break. Has won over this C&D in the past.

Form: 30339-7

(1)

Fly True⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: N Mackay| T: I Furtado| OR: 50| BF| CD

13/2

Followed up a good victory over this C&D in November with a 1L fourth in a 6f handicap at Chelmsford the following month. Returning from a break and races off a mark 4lb higher than for her latest success.

Form: 075514-

(11)

Coiste Bodhar^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-2| J: Nicola Currie| T: S Dixon| OR: 45| CD

40/1

C&D winner but struggled in recent starts including when fifth of six in a 5f handicap here last time out. Previously beaten 6¼L when fourth over this C&D and others hold stronger claims racing from out of the handicap.

Form: 96864-5

(4)

Sir Geoffrey^b⁴⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 8-2| J: Darragh Keenan⁽⁵⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 45| CD

66/1

Out of form the last twice including when beaten 14L over C&D when last in action in December. Nine time C&D winner but disappointing when last in action and racing from out of the handicap.

Form: 006408-

(14)

Interchoice Star^p²⁹⁷

Age: 14| Weight: 8-2| J: Nathan Evans| T: R E Peacock| OR: 45| CD

250/1

Admirable veteran has won over C&D in the past. Well beaten in two visits to this track last year and probably best watched racing from out of the handicap on his first start in nearly 10 months.

Form: 7750/79-

Non-Runners

(12)

Liamba¹⁷

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: D O'Meara J: C J McGovern

Forecasts

First Excel (4/1), Muatadel (6/1), The Golden Cue (6/1), Poet's Pride (6/1), Fly True (13/2), Newstead Abbey (10/1), Liamba (10/1), Capla Demon (11/1), Kommander Kirkup (12/1), Pearl Acclaim (14/1), Major Crispies (40/1), Coiste Bodhar (40/1), Sir Geoffrey (66/1), Interchoice Star (250/1)

FIRST EXCEL has been in good form this winter and he can register a first victory of the year by taking this competitive sprint handicap. The selection has a good draw here and looks capable of getting the better of surface debutant Poet's Pride who is returning from a break. Third place can go to The Golden Cue who was a C&D winner last time out.