Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 1m 14.82s

(5)

Saaheq³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 85

3/1

Has served The Horse Watchers proud since joining Team Appleby for 26,000gns in October 2017; 6lb higher than when beating Dynamo Walt by 2L at Chelmsford (5f) in February; has raced at Southwell once previously (finished fifth).

Form: 357-514

(1)

Gentlemen^h²³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Nicola Currie| T: P S McEntee| OR: 79| D

6/1

Not always entirely straightforward but very tough to knock as a winner of 10 of his 58 starts; in excellent shape of late, narrowly beaten over C&D latest (by today's rival Crosse Fire); has won for today's rider Nicola Currie in the past.

Form: 461133

(3)

Mujassam^b¹³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 78| CD

8/1

Belatedly back to winning ways when taking a 1m Chelmsford claimer (4/9f) with ease on his penultimate start; folded tamely at Leicester latterly and this rates as a tough assignment; on the plus side has no issues whatsoever with Southwell.

Form: 659317-

(4)

Crosse Fire^p⁵^{(ex 4)}

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon| OR: 70| CD

15/8

Won for the tenth time on Fibresand when keeping on well to down Sooqaan over 7f latest; 4lb higher in the weights today; has previous with both Marble Bar and Gentlemen.

Form: 232141

(2)

Marble Bar^h¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 62| BF| CD

5/2

Blitzed his rivals from the front when winning on his first two starts over C&D (finished over 5L in front of today's rival Crosse Fire on March 27th). However, was turned over at cramped odds on Wednesday; question marks.

Form: 046113

Forecasts

Crosse Fire (15/8), Marble Bar (5/2), Saaheq (3/1), Gentlemen (6/1), Mujassam (8/1)

Marble Bar lost his unbeaten record over C&D when disappointing at short odds yesterday, so his participation in this race must be considered in serious doubt. Therefore, with Saaheq high in the handicap and Mujassam more suited to claiming races nowadays the obvious advice is to stick with the bang in-form CROSSE FIRE who knows exactly what it takes to win on the Fibresand at Southwell.