14:00 Southwell

Monday 18 March 2019

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:0516:35

Toalsbet Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 6m 50.90s

Gold Patrol³²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-1| J: T J O'Brien| T: J Coulson| OR: 112| D

10/1

Yet to totally find his feet back under Rules and for this yard (may have needed the run last time); steadily creeping down the handicap. Plugged on to finish fourth last time over slightly shorter; more help from the handicapper needed.

Form: P-31344

Djin Conti¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 112

9/2

Maiden hurdle winner early last year who was easy to back on his chasing (handicap) debut; shaped with some promise though, behind a progressive sort. Open to further progress and stays this far; career-low mark.

Form: 193264

Briac³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 109

7/2

Made a big leap forward in form over hurdles at Ffos Las in January (race sponsored by trainer); followed up off the same mark over fences in the next week. Returned to hurdles last time off this mark (109); still in good heart, should go well.

Form: PF4113

Reckless Behavior^p²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 107| BF

4/1

Lived up to his name when unseating his rider on Saturday (Uttoxeter, well backed). Never one to treat with total confidence (not the first time he's played up at the start); still yet to win over fences (0-6), best watched for now.

Form: 50P24U

Sonoftheking^t⁶⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 105| D

25/1

Exeter handicap chase winner off a 2lb lower mark (November 2017) who hasn't quite sparked since, can be excused two runs this season. Needed the run the first time, badly hampered early on last time; decent mark if bouncing back.

Form: 1244-46

Midnight Bliss^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Bryony Frost| T: C Fryer| OR: 103| D

6/1

Held her form very well for the most past since opening her chase account at Fakenham last summer; gained two further wins. Looks as though the handicapper may have caught up with her after her last win; ran a moderate race last time.

Form: 12P134

Riddlestown^b¹⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁵⁾| T: C Fryer| OR: 102| CD

18/1

Seven-time course winner (won on this card 2016) who has now slipped down the handicap; 7lb below last winning mark. Has run some uninspiring races of late though since returning from a break (including here); pulled up last time.

Form: 14787P

Rollerball Rocco⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: C T Pogson| OR: 91| D

9/2

A switch to fences/handicaps appeared to provide the catalyst for a much improved performance when winning at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy). Ran with credit returned to the same C&D last time off a 10lb higher mark; still unexposed over fences.

Form: 407-P14

Forecasts

Briac (7/2), Reckless Behavior (4/1), Djin Conti (9/2), Rollerball Rocco (9/2), Midnight Bliss (6/1), Gold Patrol (10/1), Riddlestown (18/1), Sonoftheking (25/1)

The handicapper and temperament looks as though it may have caught up with a few of these and back over fences off a mark he ran very well off last time out when hurdling BRIAC looks as though he could still be a step ahead of the handicapper. Djin Conti shaped well enough behind a thriving and well-handicapped winner on his chase debut at Newbury and enters the argument along with Rollerball Rocco who still looks as though he may progress further in this sphere. Sonoftheking resides on a decent mark if he can find the form of his Exeter win.