Bombardier Golden Beer Handicap

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 1m 27.92s

(1)

Power Link^p³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: B A Curtis| T: J Tate| OR: 96| D

11/8

Winner of three of his five starts since returning from a spell in the UAE; seeks the hat-trick following successive Class 3 handicap wins at Wolverhampton (6f-7f); 4lb higher than when beating Young Fire by ½L latest; first Fibresand start.

Form: 071211-

(4)

Raydiance¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Harrison Shaw⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 93| D

2/1

Placed on both previous AW starts (over 7f on Tapeta at Newcastle), including when beaten 2¼L by the classy Above The Rest; 3lb above his last winning mark; appeals as the type to take to this surface (twice a winner on soft).

Form: 353593-

(3)

Captain Jameson^v²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 84

5/1

Without a win since October 2018 but was in good form towards the tail-end of the turf season (323); no extra inside the final furlong when fifth to Typhoon Ten at Lingfield (7f) four weeks ago; first Fibresand start.

Form: 383235-

(2)

Call Out Loud⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: Theodore Ladd⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 82| C| D

12/1

Finished fifth in this race last year and hasn't competed at Southwell since; in peak form on turf during June and July (123), making all to score on good to soft ground at Leicester (7f); disappointing lately; stablemate of Six Strings.

Form: 123600-

(5)

Six Strings³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 77

10/1

Both career wins have come at 6f (Newcastle & Catterick); runner-up (beaten favourite) at Musselburgh (7f, good to firm) in September; mixed fortunes since, easing 2lb in the weights; stablemate of Call Out Loud; first Fibresand start.

Form: 244605-

Forecasts

Power Link (11/8), Raydiance (2/1), Captain Jameson (5/1), Six Strings (10/1), Call Out Loud (12/1)

Only the disappointing Call Out Loud has previous experience of racing on Fibresand at Southwell but he's difficult to fancy alongside his stablemate Six Strings. The progressive horse in the line-up is undoubtedly Power Link, and it's possibly a foolish approach to take him on in a winnable contest. However, at the projected odds there's more value in chancing the Karl Burke-trained RAYDIANCE who appeals as the type to take to this surface (twice a soft ground winner as a juvenile). His experiences of artificial surfaces are admittedly limited, but he's shown ability in filling the frame in Class 2 7f handicaps at Newcastle (behind Mubhij and Above The Rest).