18:00 Southwell

Friday 29 December 2023

All16:0016:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:30

Always Gamble Responsibly With BetUK Handicap

Off time: 18:02 | Winning time: 2m 35.70s

(3)

Aikhal^t¹⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Hayley Turner| T: J A Osborne| OR: 98

50/1

Blinkered for 1st time, last of 13 in handicap at Sandown (10f, good, 40/1). Off 174 days (gelded in the interim) and moves back up in trip for this tapeta debut. Well treated judged on peak form for Aidan O'Brien but now has a fair bit to prove.

Form: 6568-00

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(6)

Diamond Bay¹⁰⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: P J McDonald| T: T Ward| OR: 92| D

13/2

Latest win at Wolverhampton in September. 4/1, creditable sixth of 11 in handicap at this course (16.5f). Off 107 days and back down in trip. Probably a shade too high in the weights for now.

Form: 315416

(2)

Galactic Jack^t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: D C Costello| T: Anthony Charlton| OR: 94| D

100/1

Hooded for 1st time when last of 7 in juvenile hurdle (9/1) at Sandown (16f, heavy) on debut for new yard 21 days ago. Useful at his best in this sphere but well beaten on latest Flat start at Haydock in July.

Form: 6-65610

(10)

Zealandia^p³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Jack Enright⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 88| D

11/1

Latest win at Goodwood in August. 25/1, good third of 10 in handicap at Wolverhampton (14f) 36 days ago. Unexposed on the AW and should make his presence felt.

Form: 842153

(11)

Graphite^t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: Billy Loughnane| T: T Kent| OR: 88| D

9/2

Creditable second of 7 in handicap (17/2) at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 20 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Remains on a workable mark up 1 lb and this 9-y-o should have a part to play.

Form: 8-85022

(9)

Oneforthegutter^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: K T O'Neill| T: Ian Williams| OR: 87| D

7/1

12/1, creditable third of 7 in handicap at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 20 days ago, well positioned. Needs to find some improvement in order to emerge on top here.

Form: 662643

(7)

Educator⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Harry Davies| T: M Appleby| OR: 87

10/3

3/1, fourth of 7 in handicap at Ascot (16f, good) 84 days ago, not ideally placed. Back down in trip for this tapeta debut on first start for the Michael Appleby yard. High on the shortlist.

Form: 323794

(4)

Postmark^p,t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Callum Hutchinson⁽³⁾| T: Anthony Charlton| OR: 82

15/2

Cheekpieces on for 1st time in this code, good third of 6 in handicap (22/1) at Chelmsford City (10f) 15 days ago. Back up in trip and vulnerable from a win point of view.

Form: 0-86003

(5)

Furzig¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Cam Hardie| T: R A Fahey| OR: 81| D

25/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2022. Respectable fourth of 12 in handicap (33/1) at Newcastle (12.4f) 13 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 335074

(8)

Heathen¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 80| CD

10/3

Career best when winning 9-runner handicap at this course (12.1f. 9/4) on debut for new yard 17 days ago, easily. 6 lb rise fair enough and he's of strong interest, despite facing stronger competition this time.

Form: 086791

Non-Runners

(1)

Mond⁸⁴⁵

Weight: 9-8| Age: 5

T: J A Osborne J: S W Kelly

Forecasts

Heathen (10/3), Educator (10/3), Graphite (9/2), Diamond Bay (13/2), Oneforthegutter (7/1), Postmark (15/2), Zealandia (11/1), Mond (12/1), Furzig (25/1), Aikhal (50/1), Galactic Jack (100/1)

HEATHEN had lost his way for Ed Dunlop but got firmly back on track when easily seeing off his eight rivals on debut for David O'Meara here 17 days ago. On that evidence, he is likely to take both this 6 lb higher mark and the rise in class in his stride. Educator has also joined a stable adept at getting the best out of recruits from rival yards and he will be a big threat if taking to this surface (went close on polytrack on sole previous all-weather start). Zealandia is best of the rest.