15:06 Southwell

Thursday 16 December 2021

All12:2212:5613:3114:0614:3615:0615:4016:15

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 2m 31.34s

(14)

Uther Pendragon^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Josephine Gordon| T: J S Moore| OR: 55

18/1

Two wins from 45 Flat runs. Twenty-three runs since last win in 2020. Thirteenth of 14 in handicap at Lingfield (12f, AW, 15/2) 15 days ago and he again looks vulnerable.

Form: 484370

(5)

Nine Elms⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: S R Bowring| OR: 55| C

11/1

Course winner. 14/1, creditable seventh of 15 in handicap at Yarmouth (11.5f, good to soft) 58 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 376647

(9)

Le Bayou^b⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: J L Eyre| OR: 54

5/1

Winner at Beverley in July. 10/1, bit below form fifth of 13 in handicap at Wolverhampton (9.5f) 47 days ago. Moving back up in trip looks a good move and he's one to consider.

Form: 156225

(1)

Fleursals³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Shepherd| T: A Forbes| OR: 53

18/1

40/1, creditable third of 12 in handicap at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 38 days ago. Each-way chance if able to reproduce that level of form here.

Form: 5/70-683

(10)

Born To Sire^v1⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: C Wallis| OR: 52

16/1

Remains a maiden after 19 Flat runs. 10/1, eighth of 12 in handicap at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 45 days ago. Hopes pinned on the fitting of a visor sparking improvement.

Form: 564738

(6)

Holy Bee¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Dylan Hogan| T: M L W Bell| OR: 55

12/1

25/1, respectable fourth of 14 in handicap at Lingfield (12f, AW) 15 days ago, running on. 1 lb lower now and she has to enter calculations.

Form: 962404

(8)

Cold Harbour^p,t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Darragh Keenan| T: R Brisland| OR: 51| CD

22/1

25/1, sixth of 7 in handicap at Chelmsford City (16f) 20 days ago, missing break. Significantly back down in trip and cheekpieces back on. Others preferred.

Form: 853086

(4)

Stand Free^h⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: J Mitchell| T: Suzzanne France| OR: 50

12/1

Bit below form seventh of 13 in handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f, 15/2) 45 days ago. Up in trip and needs to bounce back, but that's not impossible now down to a career-low mark.

Form: 078847

(7)

Maharashtra⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: T Eaves| T: M Herrington| OR: 49

4/1

Winner at Chelmsford City in September. Creditable sixth of 13 in handicap at Chelmsford City (10f, 9/1) 7 days ago, nearest finish. Expected to be bang there off the same mark.

Form: 860316

(2)

Visitant⁹³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Aled Beech⁽⁵⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 49

25/1

10/1, respectable third of 10 in handicap at Redcar (14f, good). Off 93 days and back down in trip. Likely to find one or two too good once more.

Form: 685983

(3)

Vertice⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Connor Beasley| T: D Thompson| OR: 48

10/3

One win from 24 Flat runs. Winner at Newcastle in October. Good second of 12 in handicap at this course (12.1f, 12/1) 6 days ago. Each-way claims.

Form: 445812

(11)

Voi^t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Oliver Stammers⁽⁵⁾| T: C Allen| OR: 47| D

22/1

Thirty-five runs since last win in 2019. 10/1, respectable fifth of 14 in handicap at Lingfield (10f, AW) 16 days ago. Minor place money may be the best she can hope for.

Form: 233205

(13)

Quelle Vitesse⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Jack Duern⁽³⁾| T: Sarah Hollinshead| OR: 48

40/1

Lightly-raced maiden. First run since leaving Harry Dunlop when last of 12 in handicap at Wolverhampton (12.2f, 25/1) 45 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 80860

(12)

Bar None¹⁸²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Rowan Scott| T: K Tutty| OR: 46

50/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Last of 8 in handicap at Ripon (12f, good to firm, 28/1). Off 6 months ahead of this debut for new yard and he's hard to warm to.

Form: 50758

Forecasts

Vertice (10/3), Maharashtra (4/1), Le Bayou (5/1), Nine Elms (11/1), Stand Free (12/1), Holy Bee (12/1), Born To Sire (16/1), Uther Pendragon (18/1), Fleursals (18/1), Voi (22/1), Cold Harbour (22/1), Visitant (25/1), Quelle Vitesse (40/1), Bar None (50/1)

Preference is for MAHARASHTRA, who shaped well back from a 3-month break at Chelmsford where he didn't enjoy the best of runs. Likely to strip fitter this time, the 5-y-o will surely go close off the same mark here if avoiding traffic problems. Le Bayou left the impression last time that this step back up in trip would be no bad thing and he is feared, while a case can also be made for Holy Bee.