14:20 Southwell

Thursday 20 February 2020

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:50

Bombardier 'March To Your Own Drum' Handicap

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 1m 28.03s

(8)

Al Thoorayah²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Dylan Hogan⁽³⁾| T: D M Simcock| OR: 64

10/1

Back from 460-days off when a 7L seventh of 10 at Kempton over this trip last month. Minor promise as a two-year-old for Mark Johnston so step forward possible now and 3lb lower.

Form: 358/7

(4)

Fly True¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: D Nolan| T: I Furtado| OR: 61| CD

10/1

Four-time course winner (three over this trip) although never won off a mark as high as she faces here. Remains in good order having won penultimately but handicap makes her more a place prospect.

Form: 447-615

(3)

Robsdelight^v⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: L Morris| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 60| C| D

16/1

Inconsistent sort but seems to have found his niche dropped back to 6f and on this trip where he ended a long losing run recently. Has won over 7f previously so does stay this far.

Form: 96-0216

(1)

Elhafei^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 60

9/2

Still a maiden (17 starts) but placed seven times and ran well here latest when second in a 1m maiden handicap where he led until 75 yards out. Drop back to 7f for first time since 2018 might suit and respected today.

Form: 808-842

(7)

Three C's^p⁶^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Grace McEntee⁽⁷⁾| T: G Boughey| OR: 55| CD

3/1

Revelation since switched to Fibresand with comfortable wins over C&D and 1m here. Goes up another 3lb but 7lb claimer means he's still potentially well in and the hat-trick is very much on.

Form: 9762-11

(2)

Equidae^p,t⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: T Eaves| T: I Jardine| OR: 56| C

5/2

Only won once but that was here (1m) and again showed liking for the course when 1¼L second to Three C's over 1m latest having led 1f out. 3lb pull should see him push that rival hard again.

Form: 60-6442

(6)

Macs Blessings^v¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: L P Keniry| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 54| D

16/1

Returns to last winning mark today after two midfield efforts at Newcastle the last twice over 1m and 7f. Needs to find more but this is his first run on the surface.

Form: 200-854

(5)

Bobby Joe Leg^v⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 53| D

15/2

Ended lengthy losing run at Newcastle in January and very unusually for him backed the effort up when second there subsequently. Quick turnaround here but probably well in with latest effort likely to see handicap rise; player here.

Form: 7365-12

Forecasts

Equidae (5/2), Three C's (3/1), Elhafei (9/2), Bobby Joe Leg (15/2), Fly True (10/1), Al Thoorayah (10/1), Macs Blessings (16/1), Robsdelight (16/1)

Having twice won cosily here over both this trip and 1m THREE C'S looks worth sticking with and George Boughey's switch to 7lb claimer Grace McEntee means in effect the gelding is better off at the weights than he was when landing his last win. Bobby Joe Leg has suddenly found a good run of form at Newcastle so he may be the biggest stumbling block. Having only gone down by just over 1L to the selection here last time Equidae should push him close with a 3lb weight pull.