13:30 Southwell

Thursday 11 January 2024

All11:2011:5012:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

BetMGM: It's Showtime Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 1m 38.99s

(3)

Eligible³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 79| C| D

9/2

3-time course winner last winter who got on top late on to resume winning ways at York (7f) in May. Returned in good heart this AW campaign, not seen to best effect when third at Chelmsford (1m) 31 days ago. One to be interested in.

Form: 251943-

(9)

Power Of Gold²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 78| D

7/1

13/2, first run since leaving Hugo Palmer/also gelded, not seen to best effect when sixth of 8 in handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 23 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Better showing anticipated with that run under his belt.

Form: 144786-

(10)

Band Of Steel^b1,t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: R Havlin| T: S Woods| OR: 76

5/1

AW maiden winner who ran to again hit the frame when third at Lingfield (7f) 2 starts back. Possible a busy spell caught up with him when last of 10 at Wolverhampton (7f) 20 days ago and bounce back not ruled out with blinkers replacing cheekpieces.

Form: 953340-

(11)

Souffionne^t³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mulrennan| T: H Palmer| OR: 74

14/1

Much improved on debut when winning 4-runner Newcastle novice (7f) in November. Not disgraced when sixth of 12 in handicap at that venue 5 weeks ago and step up in trip rates a likely plus.

Form: 416-

(2)

Star Zinc³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Billy Loughnane| T: R Menzies| OR: 72| BF| CD

15/2

C&D winner. Latest win at Newcastle in November. 10/3, below form sixth of 12 in handicap back at that venue (7.1f) 34 days ago, ridden over 2f out and not quicken. Revised mark not beyond him but he does need things to drop right.

Form: 830166-

(6)

Shaw Park³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: D Swift| T: S Dixon| OR: 71

20/1

Creditable fourth of 12 in handicap at Newcastle (7.1f, 66/1) 34 days ago, pushed along around halfway and late headway. Eased further in weights and worth noting he remains unexposed at 1m.

Form: 225074-

(8)

Cliffcake⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: S R Bowring| OR: 70| C| D

11/2

Course winner who looked badly out sorts when last seen, losing place over 2f out when last of 11 in C&D handicap in November. Returns to action with his yard in good nick however, so a resurgence is certainly not out of the question operating 2 lb below last winning mark.

Form: 257500-

(4)

Open Choice^b¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 70

15/2

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, eighth of 12 in handicap at Newcastle (10.2f, 6/1) 10 days ago, weakening final 1f. Back down in trip. Blinkers quickly back on here and worth noting he remains less exposed than most.

Form: 43486-8

(7)

Anif²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 8-12| J: T Eaves| T: M Herrington| OR: 66| C| D

33/1

Course winner. 22/1, eleventh of 12 in handicap at this course (7.1f) 20 days ago. Has fallen to a workable mark but he needs to step up plenty on recent efforts to figure.

Form: 434000-

(5)

King Of York^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon| OR: 62| BF

4/1

Remains a maiden after 19 Flat runs. Good second of 12 in handicap at this C&D (6/5) 13 days ago, a slow start arguably costing him. Steps back up in grade now but he's of interest in present groove.

Form: 940642-

Non-Runners

(1)

Three Yorkshiremen²⁸

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: M Wigham J: A J Farragher

Forecasts

King Of York (4/1), Eligible (9/2), Band Of Steel (5/1), Cliffcake (11/2), Power Of Gold (7/1), Star Zinc (15/2), Open Choice (15/2), Souffionne (14/1), Shaw Park (20/1), Anif (33/1), Three Yorkshiremen (33/1)

A 3-time winner at this venue last winter, ELIGIBLE hasn't shaped up at all badly in 2 starts this all-weather campaign, coming from further back than ideal when third at Chelmsford 31 days ago. Operating from a workable mark, he gets the nod to come out on top. King of York has been given a chance by the assessor and arrives in good order, so he's feared at the foot of the weights. Power of Gold and Cliffcake back from a break are others to note.