15:45 Southwell

Sunday 20 December 2020

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 58.44s

(9)

Duke Of Firenze⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 9-6| J: Laura Pearson⁽⁷⁾| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 77| CD

9/2

Veteran who improved on recent efforts to win 14-runner handicap over this C&D 9 days ago by ½ length from Birkenhead. Only up 3 lb and should give another good account.

Form: 257441

(4)

Alsvinder^b¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Phil Dennis| T: P A Kirby| OR: 77| D

14/1

Blinkered first time, respectable fifth of 9 in handicap at Chelmsford (5f, 12/1) 17 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Makes a rather belated fibresand debut.

Form: 504255

(5)

Powerallied⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 77| D

28/1

Chester specialist. 50/1, below form twelfth of 20 in handicap at York (5f, soft) 72 days ago. Makes fibresand debut. Up against it unless he thrives on the new surface.

Form: 739400

(7)

Drakefell^b⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 76| D

6/1

Runner-up over C&D in October but not in quite same form when behind a few of these rivals 9 days ago.

Form: 8-22526

(10)

Mulzim⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M Murphy| OR: 76| CD

5/1

Pair of C&D wins at start of year. Off 10 months, likely needed run when 4¼ lengths eighth of 14 to Duke of Firenze in handicap (16/1) over C&D 9 days ago. Could be sharper now.

Form: 8-23118

(8)

Dark Shot^b²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: David Probert| T: S Dixon| OR: 75| CD

7/1

C&D winner. 12/1, good ¾-length third (Birkenhead second) of 14 to Duke of Firenze in handicap over C&D 9 days ago. Not at very best when third of 5 back here on Friday.

Form: 863833

(2)

Giogiobbo¹⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Jonathan Fisher⁽⁵⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 74

9/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2018. 28/1, seventh of 12 in handicap at Wolverhampton (7.2f). Off 147 days. Significantly back down in trip. Makes fibresand debut.

Form: 544-007

(3)

Samovar^b⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: L Morris| T: S Dixon| OR: 67| CD

4/1

Four-time C&D winner. Twenty runs since last win in 2019. 6/1, creditable 1¼ lengths fourth of 14 to Duke of Firenze in handicap over this C&D 9 days ago.

Form: 472234

(6)

Fair Alibi³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: A Mullen| T: T P Tate| OR: 61| CD

7/1

Just one win from 22 starts but it did come over C&D. 6/1, below form sixth of 14 in handicap at Newcastle (6f) 30 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 305356

Non-Runners

(1)

Birkenhead²

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: J L Eyre J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Samovar (4/1), Birkenhead (4/1), Duke Of Firenze (9/2), Mulzim (5/1), Drakefell (6/1), Dark Shot (7/1), Fair Alibi (7/1), Giogiobbo (9/1), Alsvinder (14/1), Powerallied (28/1)

A switch to fibresand sparked one-time smart sprinter DUKE OF FIRENZE back to form here recently. He had four of these rivals behind him on that occasion and is taken to confirm his superiority with good-value 7 lb claimer Laura Pearson once again doing the steering. Samovar could be the one to give him most to do.