17:45 Southwell

Tuesday 29 October 2019

All16:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Betway Handicap

Off time: 17:45 | Winning time: 2m 35.63s

(5)

Clooney¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Morgan Cole⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs L Pearce| OR: 65

100/1

Offered little on his first run for this yard having shown only modest form for Ed Walker in his two previous starts. Very lightly-raced for one of his age; now makes his handicap/Fibresand debut back up in trip, hard to make a case.

Form: 03-9

(1)

The Dancing Poet^p²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Hollie Doyle| T: E F Vaughan| OR: 71

7/2

A winner from the front over 1m2f at Chelmsford in August he's continued in good heart since then with a couple of placed efforts. Now steps onto this surface for the first time upped in trip; interesting given his sire's good record here.

Form: 4-67133

(4)

Cold Harbour^t¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: K T O'Neill| T: R Brisland| OR: 64| CD

5/1

Only one blemish on his record here (1171) with two of those wins coming at this trip, the latest in October (beat a good Fibresand marker). Failed to fire on the Tapeta last time, will be more at home here up just 3lb for his last win.

Form: 120710

(2)

Renardeau^v1⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Charles Bishop| T: A Stronge| OR: 70

25/1

Improved when winning at Ffos Las (1m2f) in July; never looked like following up from a 5lb higher at Windsor soon after. Returns from a break to make his Fibresand debut with a first-time visor fitted, initial try at this trip, others appeal more.

Form: 0-85415

(3)

Grazeon Roy⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mulrennan| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 69

11/8

Made a thriving rival pull out all the stops at Doncaster last time showing improved form; had a hard race in doing so, can race off the same mark here. Made his debut here in April over 1m; may well do better, recent exploits could have left a mark.

Form: 55342

(8)

George Mallory³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 68

8/1

A change of tactics (went from the front) saw him show improved form when winning at Haydock in August (1m2f, good). Followed that up with a respectable effort over this trip on much softer ground; mark still workable, chance if handling surface.

Form: 666713

(6)

Couldn't Could She²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Charlie Bennett| T: A West| OR: 61| C

66/1

Plenty of experience here having win on her debut effort on Fibresand over 1m back in 2017. Failed to match that form here since and despite winning twice at Brighton earlier this year she's been well below-par for her last two starts.

Form: 584350

(7)

Say Nothing⁶⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: P J McDonald| T: H Morrison| OR: 67

8/1

Fibresand newcomer from a yard that do well here; form has proved a little inconsistent since a good second at Haydock in June over a similar trip to today. Shaped as if amiss when last seen; market a good indicator of what's expected this time.

Form: 028428

(9)

Cuba Ruba^p¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 57| D

22/1

Musselburgh winner of this mark back in August over the same trip who has disappointed twice since that initial success. Far too free on heavy ground last time he'll need to settle better to make an impression on his Fibresand debut.

Form: 441450

Forecasts

Grazeon Roy (11/8), The Dancing Poet (7/2), Cold Harbour (5/1), Say Nothing (8/1), George Mallory (8/1), Cuba Ruba (22/1), Renardeau (25/1), Couldn't Could She (66/1), Clooney (100/1)

Three-year-olds dominate the field and there’s every chance that one or two of them could find some extra progress despite not running here before. One who has is Grazeon Roy who showed improved form last time but will find this a very different test and that tough race in the conditions could have left a mark. George Mallory makes his Fibresand debut along with another front-running 3yo in The Dancing Poet and both of those are worthy of respect if they handle this surface. Preference though is for triple course winner COLD HARBOUR who returns to his favoured surface after running below-par last time; he’s taken to bounce back and see off the 3yo challenge.