18:30 Southwell

Tuesday 16 July 2019

All18:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

TFM Freedom Handicap Chase

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 4m 1.20s

Civil Unrest^b⁶⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 11-11| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 110| D

7/1

Veteran who needed no second bidding to take advantage of the handicapper's generosity after a string of placed efforts to score at Hexham (2m) last time. Received a good positive ride; only 2lb higher but not the obvious type to score again.

Form: 23422-1

Deise Vu^p³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: David Noonan| T: R Brotherton| OR: 108| CD

16/1

Reasonable 2-6 record over C&D the last of those wins coming here in March off a 4lb lower mark. Can often do too much too soon (very free going) and ran in that manner when last seen over hurdles at Stratford; not the most reliable.

Form: 2113-48

Oliver's Gold^p¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Miss E Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 107| CD

7/2

Not the force he once was but has been running consistently this year without winning breaking a run of five seconds last time with a third at Cartmel. Beaten by two much younger rivals there, the same fate could await him here.

Form: 222-223

Un Beau Roman^h⁵³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson| OR: 107| D

7/1

Not hard to argue that he well handicapped on his old form but that fact is tempered by the long losing run he's on. Did take a step back in the right direction last time at Worcester when ridden with restraint; a repeat sees him go close.

Form: 2434-32

Gold Mountain^t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: L P Aspell| T: M Keighley| OR: 106

6/1

Very lightly raced for this yard (has also had a wind op) having missed a chink of time before joining this stable. Looks to have needed his two starts since his wind op; modest performance last time over 5f further at Newton Abbot; hard to assess.

Form: 353/P-57

Overtoujay^p⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: C T Pogson| OR: 105

6/1

Produced a sound enough performance when returning from six month off to score at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) in May. Undoubtedly went backwards from that reappearance run last time (beaten some way out) at Market Rasen; not hard to have doubts.

Form: 4U35-16

Dexcite^h¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: N Kent| OR: 105| CD

20/1

At one time looked useful for Tom George but his quirks have got the better of him and he looks very much on the downgrade. Well held on his chasing debut (faced a stiff task) but doesn't make much appeal even in this lowly grade.

Form: P5FP-84

By Rail^h¹⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: J M Quinlan| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 100| D

12/1

Ran well off a break when making all to win at Fakenham in December (2m) despite the second holding the door wide open; may well have been better than the bare form of his two defeats since. Can't be ruled out back from another absence.

Form: 224135-

Little Stevie²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 99| D

4/1

Record has been rather diverse since he was revitalised to win at Worcester over hurdles in May. His one chase win since that victory saw him produce his best performance; below-par over hurdles last time he's still well handicapped over fences.

Form: 5-127U5

Forecasts

Oliver's Gold (7/2), Little Stevie (4/1), Overtoujay (6/1), Gold Mountain (6/1), Un Beau Roman (7/1), Civil Unrest (7/1), By Rail (12/1), Deise Vu (16/1), Dexcite (20/1)

Most of these make fairly limited appeal as does the contest as a betting heat but it’s hard to ignore the mark that UN BEAU ROMAN runs off now and with him showing signs of life last time when just going down at Worcester he’s taken to end a long losing spell. There should be a good battle on for the lead with the likes of Deise Vu, Civil Unrest and By Rail all likely to go forward and set this up for a closer. Oliver’s Gold continues to knock on the door but generally finds one too good and it may well be that a return to fences sees Little Stevie, still nicely weighted, in a better light than over hurdles of late.