12:20 Southwell

Monday 3 January 2022

All12:2012:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:20

Watch Off The Fence On attheraces.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:20 | Winning time: 5m 35.91s

Rizzardo⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Finn Lambert⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 106| CD

11/2

Arrives on back of win in 7-runner handicap chase at Fontwell (21.6f) 50 days ago. C&D scorer too, so he's in the shake-up despite 3 lb rise.

Form: 3-64541

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Happy News^t³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: J Groucott| OR: 106| D

10/1

Scored at Ludlow in October and posted respectable third of 6 in handicap over C&D 34 days ago. Tongue strap back on, and he can't be ruled out.

Form: 417-1P3

Elkstone^h⁴⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: J E Moore| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 105| DWS

33/1

Irresolute performer who was pulled up in handicap chase at Huntingdon (19.9f, good) 44 days ago. Back from a wind op with others much preferred.

Form: 631-PPP

Rafferty^h,t1⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan| OR: 105| D

13/2

Gained his breakthrough win at Market Rasen in October before doing too much too soon when fourth of 9 in handicap at Huntingdon (19.9f) 55 days ago. Much respected in first-time tongue strap.

Form: 7/1-7314

Lord Sparky^b,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 103| D

7/2

Gained his fourth win at Huntingdown in 8-runner handicap chase (3m) 29 days ago. In the shake-up nudged up just 2 lb.

Form: 11-4021

Massini Man²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 99

14/1

It's now thirteen runs since his last win in 2018, and only eighth of 12 in handicap chase at Ludlow (20ft) 28 days ago. Others are preferred.

Form: P/3FP-48

Ben Buie^v¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| OR: 99

7/2

Improved since the visor went on, and he arives on a hat-trick after 2m handicap chase wins at Hereford and Leicester. 8 lb higher now but he's still weighted to go close back up in trip.

Form: PP-9011

Caro Des Flos³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: J S Smith| OR: 94| D

17/2

Opened his account at Worcester in June and not disgraced both starts since, third of 13 at Market Rasen (19.2f) 32 days ago. Can give another good account eased 2 lb.

Form: 367153

Wells Gold^p²²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: Sara Ender| OR: 77

33/1

Patchy record for Fergal O'Brien and is yet to show anything for his current yard. Hard to make a case for.

Form: 44P6/0U

Cut And Run^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 77| D

12/1

It's now fourteen runs since his last win in 2019, and he came in only twelfth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Catterick (19.3f) 20 days ago. He's hard to fancy back chasing.

Form: 8PP840

Leskinfere^p⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: J R Cornwall| OR: 72

20/1

Remains a maiden after 24 runs, but he posted creditable third of 9 in handicap chase at Huntingdon (23.6f) 8 days ago. Needs more here though from 7 lb out of the handicap.

Form: F56-P43

Forecasts

Ben Buie (7/2), Lord Sparky (7/2), Rizzardo (11/2), Rafferty (13/2), Caro Des Flos (17/2), Happy News (10/1), Cut And Run (12/1), Massini Man (14/1), Leskinfere (20/1), Elkstone (33/1), Wells Gold (33/1)

BEN BUIE hasn't looked back since the visor went on and is fancied to defy an 8 lb rise in the weights and complete a quick hat-trick with this return to a longer trip also a plus. Lord Sparky is feared most on the back of his recent Huntingdon success, although in-form duo Rafferty and Caro des Flos both warrant plenty of respect too in an open handicap.