16:00 Southwell

Saturday 1 January 2022

All12:3313:0813:4314:1814:5315:2816:0016:30

Betway Handicap

Off time: 16:02 | Winning time: 2m 25.23s

(10)

King Of The South^v²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Callum Shepherd| T: W J Knight| OR: 101

7/2

Career best when winning 6-runner handicap at Wolverhampton (12.2f, evens) 28 days ago, plenty in hand. Still progressing, and another bold bid is on the cards.

Form: 213711-

(6)

Halimi^p⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Harry Burns⁽⁵⁾| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 98

16/1

First run since leaving Simon Crisford when below form seventh of 12 in handicap at Goodwood (12f, soft, 20/1) 83 days ago. Makes tapeta debut. Cheekpieces back on. Others more persuasive.

Form: 37/4737-

(12)

Pirate King¹³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 98

40/1

Fourteenth of 15 in handicap (40/1) at York (11.8f, good to firm). Off 134 days. Makes tapeta debut. Has work to do.

Form: 2/31480-

(1)

Midnights Legacy¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: G Lee| T: A King| OR: 97| BF

28/1

5/4, fourth of 5 in handicap at Lingfield (12f, AW) 14 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Drop in trip might act against him, but claims if they go a strong pace.

Form: 214494-

(2)

Habit Rouge¹⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Marco Ghiani| T: M Botti| OR: 94

12/1

Two wins from 6 runs last year. Fourth of 6 in handicap at Chelmsford City (10f, 10/1). Off 6 months. Others make more appeal.

Form: 513214-

(11)

Sky Power¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 92| C

5/2

Course winner. Two wins from 6 runs last year. Career best when winning 5-runner handicap (13/8) at Chelmsford City (10f) 16 days ago, pushed out. Solid claims in hat-trick bid.

Form: 242411-

(5)

Kasperenko^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: O McSweeney⁽⁵⁾| T: E J Alston| OR: 89

50/1

Latest win at York in September. 4¼ lengths fourth of 6 to King of The South in handicap at Wolverhampton (12.2f, 28/1) 28 days ago, nearest finish. Hard to envisage him turning the tables.

Form: 499174-

(7)

Sir Chauvelin²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 89

20/1

Two wins from 6 runs last year. 5/6, improved on recent efforts to win 4-runner handicap at Newcastle (12.4f) 21 days ago, cosily. In top form right now, so can't be ruled out for all this is tougher.

Form: 008711-

(3)

Onesmoothoperator¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 87| CD

11/4

7/4, career best when winning 8-runner handicap at this C&D 10 days ago, storming clear. More to come for this stable, so capable of following up if the race is run to suit.

Form: 292221-

(8)

Matchless^v1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: T E Whelan| T: I Furtado| OR: 87

100/1

First run since leaving Aidan O'Brien when last of 7 in handicap at Chelmsford City (14f, 80/1) 16 days ago. Down in trip. Makes tapeta debut. Visor on 1st time. Not easy to make a case for.

Form: 580477-

(9)

Napper Tandy¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 86

11/2

Respectable third of 7 in handicap (4/1) at Chelmsford City (14f) 16 days ago. Down in trip. Others make more appeal.

Form: 21/3153-

Non-Runners

(4)

Protected Guest¹

Weight: 8-9| Age: 7

T: G G Margarson J: Jane Elliott

Forecasts

Sky Power (5/2), Onesmoothoperator (11/4), King Of The South (7/2), Napper Tandy (11/2), Habit Rouge (12/1), Protected Guest (14/1), Halimi (16/1), Sir Chauvelin (20/1), Midnights Legacy (28/1), Pirate King (40/1), Kasperenko (50/1), Matchless (100/1)

ONESMOOTHOPERATOR, who hasn't been with Brian Ellison for long, swept through to score in convincing style over C&D 10 days ago and, provided they go a solid pace, he seems likely to arrive with another strong late run. Hat-trick seekers King of The South and Sky Power look formidable opponents, however.