14:40 Southwell

Friday 5 January 2018

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1015:40

Betway Sprint Handicap

Off time: 14:42 | Winning time: 1m 13.95s

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(5)

Musharrif²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: S Donohoe| T: D Carroll| OR: 77

9/2

Has started to look in better heart of late and his mark is edging back down to one that he can win off (2lb above last winning mark here) and he ran well here over 7f last time. Probably better at 5f these days (has won over 7f) but one to bear in mind given how well he travels.

Form: 535555-

(2)

Midnight Macchiato⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: R Winston| T: D H Brown| OR: 75

14/1

Has run here the last twice over 7f first and then over 5f last time out and now tried at 6f. Hasn't looked totally at home on the surface and his only win remains in a 7f maiden on turf.

Form: 362097-

(7)

Courier¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 73| D

16/1

Outclassed at Wolverhampton last time (started 50/1) this grade is more likely to see her run to form although this will be her first experience of Fibresand. Now well below her last winning mark but her sire has a fairly low strike-rate on this surface.

Form: 35743-4

(3)

Interlink⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Barry McHugh| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 72| D

12/1

Has returned some sound enough efforts on this surface but has still to win a handicap and ran no sort of race on his first outing for this yard over 7f at Newcastle. Best run here came when he ran into one who was well suited by the surface in August but may need some help from the handicapper.

Form: 030220-

(1)

Monte Cinq^h¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: J Ward| OR: 70

33/1

Very much looks to be performing below his best at the moment and only plugged on here last time when making his Fibresand debut. Dropped 5lb for that effort and upped a furlong in trip but he still makes little appeal here.

Form: 954805-

(4)

Kody Ridge¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 70| D

16/1

Won a couple on turf over this trip last summer and was bought by this yard when winning a Leicester seller; subsequently won a Ripon handicap off 67. Looked rather rusty after a break making his Fibresand debut last time over 5f; may do better here.

Form: 130526-

(10)

The Amber Fort¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: S A Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 69| BF| D

4/1

Started out like on the Fibresand over 6f last time out in a lower grade but was very strong in the betting and only touched off by one who has shown himself well suited by the surface (third has also won since). Edged up 2lb for that effort but clearly one to be of interest now.

Form: 325652-

(8)

Amazing Grazing^e/s¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Hart| T: R C Guest| OR: 68

40/1

Already on his third yard despite being lightly raced he was very easy to back on his debut for this yard at Chelmsford over 7f last time. Wore first-time eyeshields there (retained here) but looked a little awkward and the shorter trip is hardly an advantage.

Form: 35714-

(9)

Newstead Abbey^b²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: T Eaves| T: M Herrington| OR: 67| CD

7/1

Twice a winner on other synthetic surfaces in August/September over 6f in handicaps he appeared to appreciate the drop into a claimer and his first experience of Fibresand last time. Won that fairly easily (made all) but won't find this return to handicap company as easy.

Form: 147081-

(6)

Ghaseedah^b³²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: T J Murphy| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 67| CD

7/4

Has started to look disappointing but the switch to this surface appeared the catalyst that enabled her to break her maiden in impressive fashion over this trip. She now reverts to handicapping off a 4lb lower mark than her previous try and should make a bold bid returned to this surface.

Form: 8/83931-

Non-Runners

(11)

Crosse Fire⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 6

T: S Dixon J: K T O'Neill

Forecasts

Ghaseedah (7/4), The Amber Fort (4/1), Musharrif (9/2), Newstead Abbey (7/1), Crosse Fire (10/1), Interlink (12/1), Midnight Macchiato (14/1), Kody Ridge (16/1), Courier (16/1), Monte Cinq (33/1), Amazing Grazing (40/1)

A sprint handicap with some depth despite the market looking a little lopsided and greatly favouring the impressive maiden winner over C&D last time in Ghaseedah. That form isn’t strong though and she’ll be tested to a greater degree here and THE AMBER FORT appeals more at the likely odds. He looked well suited by this surface last time when taking the runner-up slot and that form also looks strong. Newstead Abbey defends a 1/1 record here but has more to do than when winning a claimer here while Kody Ridge may be fitter this time around and more is expected. Musharrif is worth watching for the future slipping down the weights although this 6f trip may just test him a little too much a return to 5f being the time to side with him.