12:30 Southwell

Sunday 5 January 2020

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

Betway Handicap

Off time: 12:31 | Winning time: 57.96s

(3)

Zapper Cass^v⁴^{(ex 4)}

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: B A Curtis| T: M Appleby| OR: 72| CD

11/10

Won in good style over C&D on New Year's Day and every chance he will make another bold bid under his 4lb penalty. Also scored on his previous visit here in November so seems to be very much at home on the Fibresand.

Form: 17869-1

(2)

Followthesteps^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: T Eaves| T: I Furtado| OR: 72| D

9/2

Only win came at Wolverhampton in June 2017 and has been lightly raced since then. Decent third on soft ground at Hamilton in June and hasn't had the rub of the green in two starts since returning from break. 3lb drop helps the cause.

Form: 425389-

(6)

Warrior's Valley^p,t⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 67| CD

9/1

4lb better off with Zapper Cass for finishing over four lengths behind in third a few days ago. Last win came over C&D last March off 4lb higher mark so should get closer to his old rival this time.

Form: 04094-3

(4)

Tabaahy²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: D O'Meara| OR: 67| D

10/1

Landed Wolverhampton 5f novice stakes on debut for this yard in April last year but generally disappointing since. Fair effort after six months off at Wolverhampton 6f recently. Ability to handle this very different surface has to be taken on trust.

Form: 155906-

(5)

Fair Alibi³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J P Sullivan| T: T P Tate| OR: 63| BF| CD

8/1

Won maiden over this C&D last February but hasn't added to that since then. Faded final furlong over 6f here last time. 2lb drop and return to optimum trip may see him get involved this time.

Form: 037686-

(7)

Skeetah³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 62| D

22/1

Broke her duck at Nottingham in October on heavy ground (5f). Solid two runs here last twice but appears to be in the handicapper's grip and more needed to score.

Form: 534153-

(1)

George Thomas¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Selma Grage⁽⁷⁾| T: R Eddery| OR: 62| D

8/1

Only hinted at ability in five starts for Mick Quinn but made winnig debut for current yard when scoring at Lingfield last time off 5lb lower mark. Apprentice rider retains the ride and interesting to see how he fares on Fibresand.

Form: 746601-

Forecasts

Zapper Cass (11/10), Followthesteps (9/2), George Thomas (8/1), Fair Alibi (8/1), Warrior's Valley (9/1), Tabaahy (10/1), Skeetah (22/1)

ZAPPER CASS won with something to spare over C&D on New Year's Day and a 4lb penalty may not be enough to stop him following up if in similar mood. Third placed Warrior's Valley may get closer on the revised terms, while recent Lingfield winner George Thomas remains unexposed and could have a say if handling the surface. Followthesteps has run better of late than his finishing positions indicate and is not out of it, and Fair Alibi is another worth considering.