17:00 Southwell

Wednesday 22 December 2021

All15:5516:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:30

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 17:01 | Winning time: 2m 26.55s

(5)

Ashington¹⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Harry Russell⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 78

25/1

3/1, won 4-runner novice chase at Hexham (20.1f, good to soft) when last seen in June. Resumes in this sphere on a potentially handy mark and needs considering. Yard also saddles Onesmoothoperator.

Form: 0567/94-

(7)

Onesmoothoperator¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 81

7/4

7/4, first run since leaving David Simcock when creditable second of 7 in handicap at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 18 days ago, slowly away. Should give another good account.

Form: 329222

(4)

Culture¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: T Ward| OR: 75| D

18/1

33/1, fifth of 7 in handicap at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 18 days ago. Now 9 lb below last winning mark, but others preferred all the same.

Form: 557475

(2)

Khilwafy¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Connor Beasley| T: D Thompson| OR: 72| CD

10/3

Thrice-raced winner on Flat. Won 10-runner maiden (7/2) at this C&D 12 days ago, always holding on. More needed now switched to handicap company.

Form: 541

(3)

Soaring Star^p¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: T Eaves| T: P A Kirby| OR: 71

25/1

Latest win at Newcastle in September. 6/1, last of 5 in handicap at Newcastle (10.2f) 19 days ago, but possibilities here if he puts his best foot forward.

Form: 501455

(1)

Kentucky Kingdom¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: D C Costello| T: H J Evans| OR: 69

14/1

10/1, respectable fourth of 12 in handicap at this course (12.1f) 15 days ago. The jury remains out as to whether this is his trip (all 3 wins gained over 1¼m) and may again find one or two too good.

Form: 773644

(8)

Rainbow Jet⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Marco Ghiani| T: J Mackie| OR: 67

10/1

Eighth of 12 in handicap (8/1) at Doncaster (10.2f, soft) 61 days ago and he's likely to come up short once more.

Form: 130688

(6)

Cherokee Dance^p³^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Ben Sanderson⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 63

11/4

Winner at Wolverhampton in December. 5/2, good second of 7 in handicap at Kempton (11f) 3 days ago. Likely to be in the mix if again turned out quickly.

Form: 329412

Forecasts

Onesmoothoperator (7/4), Cherokee Dance (11/4), Khilwafy (10/3), Rainbow Jet (10/1), Kentucky Kingdom (14/1), Culture (18/1), Soaring Star (25/1), Ashington (25/1)

Though he appears to be Brian Ellison's second-string based on jockey bookings, ASHINGTON could be the answer to this trappy-looking race. Successful over hurdles and fences this year, he returns to the Flat on an attractive mark and is marginally preferred to his consistent stablemate Onesmoothoperator. Soaring Star is best of the rest, given that this trip appears to stretch Kentucky Kingdom.