14:10 Southwell

Friday 20 December 2019

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5016:2016:50

Betway Selling Handicap

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 3m 41.17s

(5)

Ezanak^p⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 62

40/1

Won a seller at Beverley for Mick Appleby in August but has been regressive for new connections on the Flat and over hurdles. Well held over this trip at Wolverhampton last time, and while this is easier, he makes limited appeal.

Form: 147907

(4)

Scrafton¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: George Downing| T: A W Carroll| OR: 60| C| D

12/1

Won at Wolverhampton last December, but has been soundly beaten on all four starts this year, and hard to know what ability, if any, remains.

Form: 61-7090

(3)

Sea Of Mystery^b,e/s¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 60

11/8

Won at Leicester in September, and ran creditably when fifth to Tynecastle Park in a stronger event over 1m6f here last time, wearing eyeshields for first time. Tongue tie missing now, but looks to have been found a good opportunity down in class.

Form: 237775

(7)

Panatos⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Cam Hardie| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 58| D

12/1

Not disgraced when sixth of 11 in a handicap over C&D in October, although has run badly twice since. Perhaps this drop to , including in a selling contest at Wolverhampton last time. At least yard is among the winners.

Form: 467676

(6)

Never A Word^b,t⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 56

11/1

Has finished in front of stablemate Panatos the last twice, including over C&D, but latest fifth at Wolverhampton on debut for this yard still represents a poor effort, and he needs to step up.

Form: 786/655

(8)

Irish Minister^t²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Toby Eley⁽⁵⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 51

7/2

Fared best of a trio of these to clash when third in a C&D handicap in late October, and would have claims if repeating that form. Well held over hurdles at Sedgefield on latest start, but this is more suitable.

Form: 698503

(1)

General Allenby^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Gavin Ashton⁽⁷⁾| T: S L Keightley| OR: 45| D

4/1

Form has a patchy look, but has a chance on the pick of it, and was unlucky not to finish closer when 7L fourth of 13 to Uncle Bernie in a 2m amateurs event at Lingfield last time. Can make an impression if building on that.

Form: 595D54

(2)

Sleepdancer^t⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Darragh Keenan⁽³⁾| T: J Ryan| OR: 45

25/1

Has shown nothing since switching to this yard after a mildly promising debut, and was hopelessly tailed off at Chelmsford last time.

Form: 700507

Forecasts

Sea Of Mystery (11/8), Irish Minister (7/2), General Allenby (4/1), Never A Word (11/1), Panatos (12/1), Scrafton (12/1), Sleepdancer (25/1), Ezanak (40/1)

Not many arrive in any form, and the safest option would appear to be SEA OF MYSTERY, who was not discredited in a much better contest here last time, and won't need to improve on that to figure, while C&D third Irish Minister should do better back on this surface after struggling over hurdles on recent starts. General Allenby was better than the bare result at Lingfield last time, and completes the shortlist.