17:10 Southwell

Saturday 9 November 2019

All16:4017:1017:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:10

Betway Supporting Responsible Gambling Handicap

Off time: 17:12 | Winning time: 58.39s

(6)

Eternal Sun^t1¹⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Gabriele Malune⁽³⁾| T: I Furtado| OR: 74| CD

22/1

Difficult to fancy at present given the manner of the defeats he has suffered the last thrice, including over C&D last time out. Not seen since May, so she will need to be fit enough on this comeback run. Best to oppose.

Form: 342500

(4)

Samovar^b¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon| OR: 73| CD

8/1

Regular visitor to this track who is a four-time C&D winner. Return to AW should suit after he was well-beaten at Nottingham (5f; soft) most recently. 3lb above his last winning mark, but he has scored off higher in the past.

Form: 001258

(7)

Royal Sands¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Barry McHugh| T: J G Given| OR: 72| C

11/4

Broke maiden tag at the fifth attempt over 6f here last time out with a strong-staying performance. Drops back to 5f for the first time, and must hold an excellent chance on just his second handicap start.

Form: 70401

(5)

Private Matter^p1⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: J Mitchell| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 70| DWS

11/2

Yet to register a win this season, and he is subsequently 15lb below his last winning mark. This contest represents a drop in class though (never ran in a class 5), so he could post a much improved performance.

Form: 837446

(1)

Requited²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Charlie Bennett| T: H Morrison| OR: 70| CD

15/8

C&D winner who had been enjoying a productive time of things prior to finishing in midfield at Bath (5f; soft) last month. Ground conditions may have been a possible excuse then, so he has to be worth another chance.

Form: 317218

(2)

Zapper Cass^b,e/s1²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 70| BF| D

7/1

Narrowly behind Ebitda at Nottingham (5f; heavy) when last seen, but is expected to reverse that form given his more consistent profile. Went awfully close at Leicester (6f; heavy) the time before that, but others currently seem more compelling.

Form: 678625

(3)

Ebitda^p1³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Jonathan Fisher⁽⁷⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 65| D

22/1

0-7 on the AW. Has only had the four starts this season, and was slightly more encouraging the last twice, when dropped in class. Cannot be recommended as a win prospect, but likely she will be thereabouts.

Form: 78-7935

Forecasts

Requited (15/8), Royal Sands (11/4), Private Matter (11/2), Zapper Cass (7/1), Samovar (8/1), Ebitda (22/1), Eternal Sun (22/1)

Although he could have ran better at Bath last time, Requited may have had genuine excuses on the soft ground. He had previously been in very good form at this track and still looks to have further scope to improve. The class-dropper Private Matter has to enter considerations, given he hasn't been disgraced in better races this season and now runs in this grade for the first time. However, preference is to stick with the unexposed ROYAL SANDS who posted a career-best when shedding his maiden tag over 6f here recently. He looks to have plenty of potential to progress in this sphere, and has only had the one handicap start.