19:00 Southwell

Thursday 25 February 2021

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Betway Handicap

Off time: 19:00 | Winning time: 1m 15.72s

(1)

Zylan^p¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: Tyler Heard⁽⁷⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 82| CD

14/1

Six-time C&D winner. Latest win here in January. Last of 5 in handicap at this course (8.1f, 6/1) 18 days ago. Back down in trip and he has work to do.

Form: 7-16135

(8)

Lord Oberon^p⁶^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽⁵⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 76| CD

13/8

Four-time course winner. Improved on recent efforts to win 8-runner handicap at this C&D (5/2) 6 days ago by 1¼ lengths from Excessable, driven out. Another bold show anticipated.

Form: 5469-11

(5)

Rock Sound^t1¹¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Mark Crehan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boughey| OR: 80| BF| CD

3/1

C&D winner. 9/4, creditable fourth of 12 in handicap at Kempton (6f) in November, making effort earlier than ideal. Tongue strap on 1st time and leading claims if fully tuned-up following a break.

Form: 712/024-

(7)

Garth Rockett^p,t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M Murphy| OR: 79| BF| D

14/1

Four wins from 10 runs last year. Good second of 7 in handicap (11/4) at Lingfield (6f, AW) 12 days ago. Makes fibresand debut and should give it a good shot if taking to this surface.

Form: 0118-22

(4)

Katheefa^b,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 75| CD

12/1

Four-time C&D winner. Eleven runs since last win in 2020. Seventh of 8 in handicap at Newcastle (7.1f, 25/1) 14 days ago. Blinkers back on. Others make more appeal.

Form: 00-3347

(3)

Alsvinder^v¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: Rossa Ryan| T: P A Kirby| OR: 73| D

18/1

Twenty-seven runs since last win in 2019. 13/2, fourth of 7 in handicap at this course (5f) 11 days ago, slowly away. Back up in trip and refitted. Vulnerable from a win point of view.

Form: 56-3284

(2)

Medicine Jack¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 69| D

10/1

Twenty-six runs since last win in 2018. 7/1, good fourth of 8 in handicap at Newcastle (6f) 14 days ago. Makes fibresand debut and place money may be the best he can hope for.

Form: 53336-4

(6)

Excessable^p,t⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 68| BF| CD

5/1

C&D winner. Latest win here in February. 5/1, good 1¼ lengths second of 8 to Lord Oberon in handicap at this C&D 6 days ago, running on. Likely to be in the thick of things once more.

Form: 13-3122

Forecasts

Lord Oberon (13/8), Rock Sound (3/1), Excessable (5/1), Medicine Jack (10/1), Katheefa (12/1), Zylan (14/1), Garth Rockett (14/1), Alsvinder (18/1)

The vote goes to lightly-raced 6-y-o ROCK SOUND, who made the frame on both starts for new connections during the autumn and is of strong interest back on this surface. Excessable has a good chance of reversing recent C&D placings with hat-trick seeker Lord Oberon on on these revised terms and he is feared most. The consistent Garth Rocket should also have a part to play if taking to fibresand.