14:25 Southwell

Tuesday 12 March 2019

All13:4514:2515:0515:4516:2517:00

Betway Heed Your Cheltenham Hunch Handicap

Off time: 14:27 | Winning time: 2m 34.57s

(6)

Be Perfect^p¹⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 9-8| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 75| D

25/1

Front-runner who gets his first experience of Fibresand (by Street Cry so should handle well) at the age of 10. This will be his first outing since last year (no great record fresh) and he's probably best watched on this occasion.

Form: 646330-

(5)

Argus¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽⁵⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 75| CD

3/1

C&D winner who bounced back to form an capitalised on a much reduced mark last time appearing to relish his first taste of this surface. Remains well treated on his old form and raised just 4lb for last win; has to prove he can back that form up.

Form: 8870-71

(8)

Nietzsche^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 75| D

8/1

First time on Fibresand for this useful hurdler who appears to be working his way back to fitness after a wind operation. Second run since that op (unsuited by the way the race developed last time); should act here, well handicapped on hurdles form.

Form: 50/892-5

(11)

Second Page^b²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Seamus Cronin⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 74| C

4/1

No problem with the surface (142 here) over a variety of trips (tried at 2m last time) but does remain hard to win with. Took a strong hold last time and is now brought back to 1m4f and apprentice ridden once again; should run his race once more.

Form: 1/472-42

(13)

Star Ascending²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: J Fanning| T: J Candlish| OR: 73| CD

12/1

Very much at home around here (five-time course winner; two at this trip) and got back to winning ways in January at Wolverhampton over this trip. Spoilt his chance last time (too free); now back on his favourite surface; usual headgear removed.

Form: 475-318

(2)

Black Noah⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: T E Whelan| T: J Farrelly| OR: 71| BF

25/1

Stable/Fibresand debut for one who has some useful maiden form but has so far missed a few winning opportunities. Ran far too free last time at Dundalk (1m4f, slow) and folded quickly; chance if he takes to this surface on handicap debut.

Form: 3332-7

(12)

High Command¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: B A Curtis| T: M Appleby| OR: 68| CD

25/1

Dual course winner (both wins back-to-back in 2016) with one coming at this trip but has failed to trouble the judge since then. Has shown very little on his last two starts for this stable here; needs to find his old form to be of interest.

Form: 0024-76

(1)

Mouchee^v¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Joey Haynes| T: M Blake| OR: 69| D

50/1

Gets his first experience of this unique surface having produced a career-best out of the blue to win at Lingfield two starts ago (visor back on). Has failed to impress in two subsequent runs though and needs to prove himself on Fibresand.

Form: 1801-97

(7)

Earl Of Bunnacurry^t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: K T O'Neill| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 66| C

11/4

Proved himself on this surface but not over this trip (win came at 1m); has been run moderately over hurdles of late. Didn't run too badly in a Dundalk handicap over this trip when last seen on the Flat; may struggle to stay this trip on Fibresand.

Form: 911723

(4)

Sonnetist^b,t1⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: S Donohoe| T: J Farrelly| OR: 66| CD

25/1

Has some good course figures (2-3 here, has won over C&D) but has failed to live up to those numbers away from here under both codes. Fared poorly in a first-time visor when last of 12 at Kempton last time; return to Fibresand needs to rejuvenate.

Form: 55778-0

(9)

Restive^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: E J Walsh| T: J S Goldie| OR: 65| CD

33/1

No stranger to success here (twice C&D winner) when with Jim Goldie his form for his current yard appears to below his best at the moment. Two runs back from a break (both at Newcastle) have proved poor; will appreciate this ease in grade though.

Form: 6945-66

(10)

Champarisi²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 66| D

8/1

No experience of this surface (by a sire with a poor record here) she has though been running some solid races on the Tapeta. Had the run of the race the last twice without being able to convert; progress looks to have halted (surface a question mark

Form: 414-245

(3)

Epitaph^b¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: A Mullen| T: M Appleby| OR: 63| CD

8/1

Quirky sort who carries a course record of 1-17 into this and is often easier to oppose than support. Did manage to win a Tapeta claimer recently (blinkers appeared to help) bit well beaten in two C&D handicaps since; others appeal more.

Form: 56-7132

Forecasts

Earl Of Bunnacurry (11/4), Argus (3/1), Second Page (4/1), Champarisi (8/1), Epitaph (8/1), Nietzsche (8/1), Star Ascending (12/1), High Command (25/1), Be Perfect (25/1), Sonnetist (25/1), Black Noah (25/1), Restive (33/1), Mouchee (50/1)

Not a particularly appealing betting medium with plenty of questions to be answered even by the principals. Second Page has shown some solid form here already and he’s one of the safer contenders in this and is likely to run his race having been only beaten narrowly over 2m last time. Star Ascending has to be respected on his previous C&D form while Nietzsche is an interesting candidate having just his second run back from a wind op – he looks well handicapped on his hurdling form if he takes to Fibresand. ARGUS has to prove that he can back up his last run and win over C&D but still looks well-in on his old form.