14:35 Southwell

Thursday 27 March 2025

All14:3515:0515:3516:0516:4017:1017:40

N&L Franklin Developments Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 6m 28.06s

Saint Bibiana^t²¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Miss Olive Nicholls⁽⁷⁾| T: G Nicholls| OR: 112

9/1

Improved markedly for a step up in trip last summer, completing quick-fire hat-trick in June. Narrowly denied a 4-timer at Newton Abbot the following month but found her run of good form halted when tailed off at Cartmel (25.4f, soft) when last seen in August. Makes return/chase debut.

Form: 3-11126

Ultra Beat^v¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Stan Sheppard| T: H D Daly| OR: 109| BF

3/1

First form over hurdles when third at Ffos Las last May and backed that up 5 months on switched to fences when runner-up at Bangor in October. Not all plain sailing since, but she had been well backed and was moving like the most likely winner when departing 5 out here 10 days ago. Can make amends.

Form: 32F35U

Catchim^t¹²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: R T Dunne| T: C & A Pogson| OR: 109| CWS

6/1

Made frame all 5 completed starts in points and was good enough to make a winning start under Rules in novice hurdle at this course last June. Found out under a penalty 6 months later when a well-held fourth at Market Rasen and now attentions are turned to the larger obstacles (has had a wind op).

Form: P423-14

Ghost Hunter³¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 105WS

5/2

£80,000 buy after finishing second in an Irish point and took his form up a notch switched to handicaps last year, making hard work of things despite the longer trip when third at Ffos Las (23.9f, good) when last seen in May. Has since switched yards and chasing looks his game (has had a wind op).

Form: 2/9444-3

Jar Du Desert²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 105

4/1

Fairly useful ex-French 17f chase winner who has a patchy record but ran one of better races back down in trip when runner-up at Market Rasen (21.4f, good) just over 3 weeks ago. His task is to now build on that effort.

Form: 36-25P2

Rostello^b⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Luke Scott⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 102| CD

25/1

Not straightforward but put it all together under a good ride when landing this corresponding race last spring. Left previous efforts for this yard behind when going close at Catterick in January but unsurprisingly wasn't anything like so effective away from a weak veterans' event last time.

Form: 1-P752P

Bravethewaves^t³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 85

15/2

Maiden hurdler but off the mark at the second attempt over fences at Catterick in January under a confident ride. Not in same form at Musselburgh next time but overcame mistakes in a weak race to double his tally at Doncaster (20.5f, good) just over 5 weeks ago. Respected from 3 lb higher.

Form: 99F151

Non-Runners

Martalmix'jac⁵²

Weight: 10-3| Age: 8

T: Mrs M Rowley J: Tabitha Worsley

Forecasts

Ghost Hunter (5/2), Ultra Beat (3/1), Jar Du Desert (4/1), Martalmix'jac (11/2), Catchim (6/1), Bravethewaves (15/2), Saint Bibiana (9/1), Rostello (25/1)

Cases can be made for several of these but the most persuasive is for ULTRA BEAT, who was travelling like the most likely winner in front when unseating his rider 5 out here recently and Henry Daly's 7-y-o is fancied to make amends at the expense of Ghost Hunter, who looks every inch a chaser and has switched yards ahead of his return. Bravethewaves and Saint Bibiana can fight out third.