19:30 Southwell

Tuesday 3 March 2020

All17:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:30

Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap

Off time: 19:30 | Winning time: 1m 15.2s

(6)

Karalini¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽⁵⁾| T: D P Quinn| OR: 60

33/1

Best effort for Mick Channon arguably came on her debut at Windsor (extended 5f, good) last April but the Es Que Love filly proved she retains ability with a solid third on debut for her new yard here last month. More now needed but still has scope.

Form: 3436/3

(4)

Intense Style⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Grace McEntee⁽⁵⁾| T: D P Quinn| OR: 59| D

25/1

Held in three starts for his current yard and not created the impression he's about to make the most of what is a highly attractive handicap mark. Will be very lightly weighted by the time the turf comes round but needs to stop the rot pretty soon.

Form: 80293-6

(1)

Jem Scuttle^b,t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D Nolan| T: D Carroll| OR: 59

5/2

Wind surgery seems to have had a positive impact on the gelding as he's gone close in each of his last three starts; was second over C&D last month and a similar level could suffice in this company; a serious player in a weak race.

Form: 57-8232

(7)

Puchita^p⁸^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 53| CD

13/8

Was a game winner over C&D eight days ago and the 5lb penalty for winning in this grade is far from insurmountable. Hardie retains the ride and another bold bid is expected despite the poor wins to runs ratio (1-34).

Form: 2-35521

(2)

Andre Amar³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: T Eaves| T: R Brisland| OR: 55

12/1

Generally been a one-way street as far as progression goes as he's been consistently against the flow of traffic for a while now. Well held off this mark (his lowest to date) at Lingfield last weekend and hard to see him making the frame again.

Form: 05-5779

(3)

Aquarius⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 54| D

6/1

Not shone to the best of her ability when tried at this course but the filly is on an attractive mark and would be dangerous to totally rule out of the equation (has won from this mark in the past). Could be good value to make the frame at least.

Form: 8-45595

(5)

Star Cracker^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: Phil Dennis| T: J S Goldie| OR: 51| D

8/1

Exploited openings in a couple of low-grade handicaps with a quick brace on Tapeta in January and feasible the gelding can still pay his way. However, he's untried on Fibresand and isn't one for maximum faith away from his beloved Newcastle.

Form: 5729-11

(8)

Wicklow Warrior^p¹³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: P D Niven| OR: 45

20/1

Lightly raced for one of his age but he's of limited ability and was well beaten in both starts in 2019; been off since October and tries sprinting for the first time; hard to see him taking the principle role from so far out of the weights.

Form: 8445/00-

Forecasts

Puchita (13/8), Jem Scuttle (5/2), Aquarius (6/1), Star Cracker (8/1), Andre Amar (12/1), Wicklow Warrior (20/1), Intense Style (25/1), Karalini (33/1)

Puchita will be popular given she won her latest start over C&D with a gritty display; even though that first career win came at the 34th time of asking; while Star Cracker is respected as he won his last two starts with a bit in hand. However, they were weak races and he's got more to do now. Therefore, preference goes to JEM SCUTTLE, who has been revived since undergoing wind surgery and, as he doesn't have any penalties for those near misses, this could finally be his time to make the most of his current lenient mark. Jem Scuttle is currently 11lb below his last winning mark and will rarely have a better chance of putting the 'well handicapped' theory to the test.