14:55 Southwell

Wednesday 3 April 2019

All14:2014:5515:2515:5516:2516:5517:25

Betway Official Grand National Betting Partner Handicap

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 1m 14.15s

(7)

Rock of Estonia⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Cieren Fallon⁽⁷⁾| T: C Hills| OR: 69

8/1

Won both his juvenile starts before returning a disappointing three-year-old campaign in the end (did catch the eye early in the season). Penultimate run looked as though he was capable of making amends; poor last time, makes Fibresand debut.

Form: 4780-57

(1)

Mr Strutter⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: T Eaves| T: Ronald Thompson| OR: 67| BF| CD

16/1

Took advantage of his lower AW mark when scoring over C&D last December (had looked limited on other synthetic surfaces). Still looked in decent form off an inflated mark again over C&D last time (slow away); chance if breaking on terms.

Form: 27541-4

(6)

Princely³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: E J Walsh| T: A G Newcombe| OR: 67| D

50/1

Fibresand newcomer whose AW score currently stands at 0-7 with his only win coming over 6f on turf (with Richard Hannon). Mark fell rapidly when with Mick Appelby without ever looking like winning (also looked hard ride); first run for this yard.

Form: 86-6668

(4)

Global Melody⁹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: P S McEntee| OR: 67| BF| C

12/1

A drop to the minimum trip proved to be the key to unlocking his previous Fibresand promise when he beat the capable if quirky Point Zero here in December. Went well for a long way over 6f here last time; 5f may prove to be his best trip though.

Form: 06741-4

(3)

Marble Bar^h⁷^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 62| CD

4/6

2-2 over C&D; both his wins coming from the front blitzing his rivals on each occasion to win in decisive style. Proved a revelation on this surface although he has had a reduced mark to work with; 5lb extra here but looks sure to go well again.

Form: 904611

(5)

Katheefa⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 66| D

7/2

On a long losing run and although he's been placed here it doesn't look a surface that suits him ideally and he was well beaten by Marble Bar last time. The turnaround in the weights favours him this time but hard to see him covering the progression.

Form: 883862

(2)

Newstead Abbey^p³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-1| J: Phil Dennis| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 63| CD

28/1

Recorded his second C&D win when returning to this surface in February with headgear back on. Followed that up with a sound enough run here over 7f; made little impression on Tapeta last time and faces a fairly stiff task this time around.

Form: 39-7147

Forecasts

Marble Bar (4/6), Katheefa (7/2), Rock of Estonia (8/1), Global Melody (12/1), Mr Strutter (16/1), Newstead Abbey (28/1), Princely (50/1)

A switch to Fibresand has produced a marked progression in the form of MARBLE BAR with a C&D double already in the form book and the likelihood is that he will be able to record another success here despite a 5lb penalty. Katheefa chased home the selection last time but fails to convince that he could turn that form around and Mr Strutter if he breaks on level terms looks a bigger threat given his liking for this surface. Global Melody deserves some respect but this 6f trip looks as though it will just stretch his suspect stamina.