15:00 Southwell

Sunday 29 December 2019

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:04 | Winning time: 59.07s

(8)

Emily Goldfinch^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Grace McEntee⁽⁷⁾| T: P S McEntee| OR: 87

28/1

Better on turf than AW, and although she was second at Woolverhampton last month, two starts since have been disappointing. This trip is sharp enough, and others hold stronger claims again.

Form: 290267

(4)

Moonraker⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: M Appleby| OR: 81| CD

9/4

Has won three times over C&D, and took a step in the right direction when a close fourth to Tawny Port here 9 days ago. Drops in class now, and ought to go well with a repeat.

Form: 606994

(7)

Samovar^b⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Sullivan| T: S Dixon| OR: 79| CD

4/1

On best behaviour since return to Fibresand in November, winning over 6f here on his penultimate start, and running at least as well when third to Tawny Port over C&D last time. Now 2lb worse off with Moonraker, who he beat ½L into fourth.

Form: 582213

(2)

Nick Vedder¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: E J Walsh| T: R Brisland| OR: 74

10/1

Three-time Tapeta winner who made his debut on Fibresand over C&D in October, finishing seventh. Fared better next time, but followed that with a stinker at Wolverhampton, which raises questions.

Form: 358760

(6)

Young Tiger^h¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: A Mullen| T: T P Tate| OR: 67| CD

7/2

Thriving at present, and has won twice over C&D in recent times. Better than ever when a luckless second at Newcastle last time, and although he's up markedly in class here, he cannot be taken lightly.

Form: 311512

(3)

Awsaaf^h¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-3| J: J Quinn| T: M Wigham| OR: 63| D

12/1

Has slipped in the weights since finishing fourth in a bunch finish at Wolverhampton last month, but his recent efforts have been woeful, and he's not one to be interested in at present.

Form: 084500

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 20p in the pound

Non-Runners

(5)

Crosse Fire²⁴

Weight: 9-6| Age: 7

T: S Dixon J: K T O'Neill

(1)

Jonboy¹¹

Weight: 8-10| Age: 4

T: D H Brown J: Josephine Gordon

Forecasts

Moonraker (9/4), Young Tiger (7/2), Samovar (4/1), Crosse Fire (8/1), Jonboy (8/1), Nick Vedder (10/1), Awsaaf (12/1), Emily Goldfinch (28/1)

Moonraker took a step in the right direction when fourth over C&D last time, and there is little to choose between him and third-placed Samovar on revised terms. Both are respected, but YOUNG TIGER is positively thriving at present, running better then ever when second at Newcastle last time, and he can make it three wins from four starts over C&D, despite stepping up in class.