16:25 Southwell

Thursday 28 January 2021

All13:1013:4014:1514:4515:2015:5516:25

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 16:28 | Winning time: 58.72s

(5)

Ustath²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Tyler Heard⁽⁷⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 67| CD

4/1

Dual C&D winner who continues in excellent form, third of 6 in handicap here 27 days ago. Can race off 1 lb lower mark here so another bold showing is on the cards.

Form: 11342-3

(3)

Pearl Of Qatar⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Phil Dennis| T: T Davidson| OR: 62| BF| C| D

5/1

Course winner who recorded respectable second of 8 in handicap at Newcastle (6f) 7 days ago. Nudged up 1 lb but well in the mix.

Form: 544-432

(7)

Qaaraat^v²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 62| CD

4/1

Arrives in top form, scoring over C&D before second of 9 in 6f handicap here only 2 days ago. Not taken lightly in current mood.

Form: 36-2712

(4)

Arzaak^b²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: William Carson| T: C Wallis| OR: 62| CD

12/1

3-time C&D winner but his run of good form ended when fifth of 10 in handicap at Wolverhampton (5.1f) 22 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 3142-25

(9)

Scale Force^b²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: George Bass⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 61| CD

14/1

C&D winner in 2018 but (blinkered) he took step back in right direction when fourth of 10 in handicap at Wolverhampton (5.1f) 22 days ago. Headgear retained so he's worth considering.

Form: 04358-4

(6)

Marwari^b,t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Joanna Mason⁽⁵⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 58

7/2

Winner at Newcastle in December who backed that up with good second of 12 to Qaaraat on fibresand bow over C&D 13 days ago. Still has few miles on the clock, so holds good claims off unchanged mark.

Form: 0/9021-2

(2)

Rayyan^b1¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: S H James| T: K R Burke| OR: 57

13/2

Low-mileage 4yo who shaped as if in top form when fourth of 7 in 6f handicap here 18 days ago, fading only last 1f. Return to 5f will suit so well worth considering in first-time blinkers.

Form: 35D24-4

(8)

Gossip^p⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Jonathan Fisher⁽⁵⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 57| CD

22/1

C&D winner at the start of the month but twice below par since, fourth of 8 in handicap (13/2) here 9 days ago. Needs to get back on track.

Form: 814-104

(1)

Leo Minor^p,t⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-6| J: Mollie Phillips⁽⁷⁾| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 47| D

25/1

Winless since 2018 and tried visored when below-form sixth of 10 over C&D 8 days ago. Tongue strap/cheekpieces back on now but he's hard to enthuse over.

Form: 079-356

Forecasts

Marwari (7/2), Qaaraat (4/1), Ustath (4/1), Pearl Of Qatar (5/1), Rayyan (13/2), Arzaak (12/1), Scale Force (14/1), Gossip (22/1), Leo Minor (25/1)

A tight-knit sprint but MARWARI remains still quite unexposed as a sprinter so is fancied to build on his excellent second to Qaaraat here and reverse placings with Antony Brittain's in-form gelding. Rayyan is another who is weighted to have a say if the fitting of blinkers has the desired effect.