16:00 Southwell

Thursday 4 February 2021

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:0016:30

Betway Handicap

Off time: 16:04 | Winning time: 1m 14.9s

(8)

Onebaba^b,e/s⁹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: C Lee| T: A W Carroll| OR: 56| CD

10/3

Arrives in excellent form, and got up late to gain second win of 2021 over C&D 9 days ago. Carries 5 lb penalty but runner-up has gone in since so big player once more.

Form: 400-141

(9)

Excelinthejungle¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: M Dwyer| T: S Durack| OR: 57

11/1

Still a maiden, and below-par fifth of 8 in handicap at Kempton (6f, 16/1) 10 days ago, finding less than looked likely. Makes fibresand debut and others more persuasive.

Form: 45/207-5

(11)

Bold Decision^p⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Mollie Phillips⁽⁷⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 55| D

6/1

Only one win from 22 Flat runs, and cheekpieces on when seventh of 9 in handicap at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 4 days ago. Others appeal more.

Form: 3382-57

(7)

Jazz Legend^p⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: K T O'Neill| T: Miss M E Rowland| OR: 53| BF| CD

11/2

4-time C&D winner, latest in January, but below-form fifth of 9 to Onebaba in handicap over C&D 9 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 423-615

(1)

Bringing Glory¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Theodore Ladd⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 52

8/1

Lightly-raced maiden who arrives on back of good fifth of 11 in 6f handicap at Newcastle (14/1) 12 days ago. Still low mileage, so much respected if taking to fibresand at first time of asking.

Form: 9574-5

(4)

Mercury^b,t⁴²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: S Hanlon| OR: 50| D

16/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2017, and only eleventh in handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f) when last seen on track 14 months ago. Makes fibresand debut with blinkers back on and easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 560040/

(5)

True Hero¹¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: K Stott| T: D H Brown| OR: 50

3/1

It's now eighteen runs since last win in 2018. Below-par fifth of 12 in handicap (11/1) at Kempton (7f) 113 days ago so hard to enthuse over on fibresand debut.

Form: 800685-

(3)

Archimedes^t,v⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: A Mullen| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 47| C| D

8/1

4-time course winner who posted creditable fourth of 9 to Onebaba in handicap (9/1) over C&D 9 days ago. In the mix once more.

Form: 632274

(2)

Outofthegloom⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Faye McManoman⁽³⁾| T: B Rothwell| OR: 45

150/1

Off 5 months before well-held eighth of 10 in handicap (250/1) at Newcastle (8f) 7 days ago. Down in trip for first try on fibresand with work to do.

Form: 08/888-8

(6)

Hellofagame²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: George Rooke⁽⁵⁾| T: R J Price| OR: 45

80/1

Remains a maiden after 25 runs, and he came in last of 12 in handicap here (5f, 150/1) 20 days ago. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 08599-0

(10)

Gulland Rock¹⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 8-12| J: William Carson| T: A Carson| OR: 45| D

40/1

Veteran is on a long losing run and (eyeshields on for 1st time) last of 14 in 7f minor event at Yarmouth 163 days ago. Needs a big step forward.

Form: 859/790-

Forecasts

True Hero (3/1), Onebaba (10/3), Jazz Legend (11/2), Bold Decision (6/1), Archimedes (8/1), Bringing Glory (8/1), Excelinthejungle (11/1), Mercury (16/1), Gulland Rock (40/1), Hellofagame (80/1), Outofthegloom (150/1)

Plenty of these have question marks against them so ONEBABA is taken to defy a 5 lb penalty for his recent C&D success and make it win number three already for 2021. Mick Appleby's in-form Bringing Glory has few miles on the clock so rates the chief threat if hitting the ground running on his fibresand bow, although Archimedes can't be ruled out lightly given his outstanding record here.