15:25 Southwell

Wednesday 27 March 2019

All14:2014:5015:2515:5516:3017:05

Betway Live Casino Handicap

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 1m 14.47s

(4)

Point Zero^b,e/s¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 74| CD

12/1

Enigmatic character who is a three-time course winner (once over this trip); gained his first handicap win on his penultimate start. Looked rather vulnerable forced into a higher grade last time; still needs others to run below-par.

Form: 113510

(2)

Gabrial The Tiger¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 70| D

13/2

Outbattled an awkward and weak finishing rival to record a Wolverhampton victory on his penultimate start; made all. Failed to get such an easy lead last time (slightly better race); faces a similar task here.

Form: 03-5414

(8)

Crosse Fire^p¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁵⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 70| CD

10/3

Can never be underestimated on this surface having already racked up nine course wins with the latest coming over this trip last time out. That victory ended a long losing run on the back of some consistent starts; only 1lb higher here.

Form: 322321

(1)

Pearl Spectre^v²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Grace McEntee⁽⁷⁾| T: P S McEntee| OR: 68| C| D

10/1

Course winner over 1m but has never run over this trip here (has won over 6f elsewhere). Took a step back in the right direction last time over 7f at Kempton but won't get such an easy time up front this time around.

Form: 316636

(5)

Royal Connoisseur¹⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 67| D

25/1

Only one previous (unplaced run here) and now returns from a fair absence having ended last year with an indifferent outing at Wolverhampton. Looks as though he's likely to need this run especially on this exacting surface.

Form: 818228-

(7)

Katheefa²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 66| D

12/1

Comes here on the back of a losing run which now stretches back to May 2018 and some 19 starts. All he appears to have done of late is add to his rather patchy record; well below form when last seen over 5f at Newcastle.

Form: 688386

(3)

Marble Bar^h¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 62| CD

13/8

Stormed home over C&D last time out (his first visit here) with a first-time hood and a mark some 20lb lower than a year previously having a lot to do with his improved form. Went with real zest; up in grade and 12lb higher, follow up likely.

Form: 8-90461

(6)

Captain Dion^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Gabriele Malune⁽³⁾| T: I Furtado| OR: 60| D

10/1

Dangerous to ignore having slipped to a career-low mark for a yard that are very adept with this sort especially at this track. This will be his debut here; any positive market signals should be viewed in an optimistic sense for his chances.

Form: 95000-8

Forecasts

Marble Bar (13/8), Crosse Fire (10/3), Gabrial The Tiger (13/2), Captain Dion (10/1), Pearl Spectre (10/1), Katheefa (12/1), Point Zero (12/1), Royal Connoisseur (25/1)

Despite facing a rise in grade and a jump in the handicap from a mark of 50 to 62 MARBLE BAR should still be able to build on his 7L win here last time especially as he looks unexposed on Fibresand and as a sprinter. Crosse Fire was only nudged up 1lb for a deserved victory last time and he can’t be left out of the picture on a track that he enjoys so much. Pearl Spectre and Gabrial The Tiger should provide a good pace to aim at here as both like to go from the front with Captain Dion one to watch closely in the market given his background and connections.