14:00 Southwell

Friday 7 February 2020

All14:0014:3515:0515:4016:1016:40

Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 1m 0.14s

(3)

Gorgeous General¹¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: William Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 57| CD

9/2

Good record on this surface, with three wins and a further four places form 11 starts here; has slipped back down to a handy mark and may be well drawn, but might need this first start since October.

Form: 273339-

(7)

Eesha Says³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: B A Curtis| T: A W Carroll| OR: 55| BF| CD

9/2

Sprang a 66-1 shock when successful over C&D back in September but two further C&D runs since then, placed on both occasions, show that to be no fluke; below par effort at Wolverhampton last time but could easily bounce back today.

Form: 49/132-5

(2)

Gupta⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Jason Hart| T: D H Brown| OR: 55

5/2

Had five runs on the surface, seems to handle it, and ran as well as he has done off the back of a wind operation here last time, sticking on well late; may be more to come and possibly better drawn here, so one to consider.

Form: 60808-4

(6)

Sambucca Spirit⁹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D C Costello| T: P T Midgley| OR: 50| BF

15/2

Yet to score in nine starts but was in decent enough form when last seen, that being in the autumn; has C&D form and although turned over at a short price on latest start, may have more to offer.

Form: 036223-

(4)

Amazing Amaya^h⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: D Shaw| OR: 50| CD

4/1

Surprise 50-1 winner of a weak race here in December, possibly making the most of a draw bias on the day, but ran at least as well next time; not so good latest and now needs to bounce back, and others make more appeal.

Form: 36513-7

(8)

Final Legacy¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽⁷⁾| T: D Shaw| OR: 47

8/1

Maiden after nine starts but almost pulled off an upset here in January, making the long odds-on Xian Express pull out all the stops; beaten ½l here on next start so handles the track, and may bounce back from a poor effort at Newcastle latest.

Form: 048-226

(1)

Bungle Billy^p1,t⁴⁷¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: J L Eyre| OR: 45

40/1

Have to go back to 2018 to find the last time he raced, didn't show a lot in four starts although final start at Newcastle wasn't a disaster; tongue-tie and cheekpieces on here; only of interest if attracting support after such a long absence.

Form: 0079/

(9)

Jeans Maite^p1,h³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J Quinn| T: S R Bowring| OR: 45

50/1

Well beaten all four starts to date, three of them on this surface, and tried a mile last time (clearly didn't stay); more chance at this trip and in a handicap, cheekpieces now added, and is at least worth a glance in the market.

Form: 025-8

(5)

Fumbleintheforest^p1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: K T O'Neill| T: R Brisland| OR: 52

100/1

Shown little in four starts and beaten out of sight on first start back after an absence at Lingfield last month; cheekpieces added, but that alone not be enough to make her of interest here.

Form: 427-0

(10)

It's Not My Fault¹³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Barry McHugh| T: P T Midgley| OR: 51

50/1

Beaten under a length in a Catterick seller last summer, but didn't build on that in three subsequent starts, and she looks modest; hopes pinned on a change of surface, and on that, her breeding gives some hope.

Form: 652550-

Forecasts

Gupta (5/2), Amazing Amaya (4/1), Gorgeous General (9/2), Eesha Says (9/2), Sambucca Spirit (15/2), Final Legacy (8/1), Bungle Billy (40/1), Jeans Maite (50/1), It's Not My Fault (50/1), Fumbleintheforest (100/1)

The draw over 5f here in recent weeks has been changeable, to say the least, with low numbers favoured for much of the winter but that trend now seems to be evening out a bit, and it's possible to win from high numbers too. Plenty can be given a chance in an open race but GUPTA performed better after a wind operation last time and may now be back on track. Eesha Says continues to run well on this surface and should again give a good account of herself. She has form that ties in closely with Amazing Amaya and she too can be given a squeak. Gorgeous General's record here entitles him to respect.