15:25 Southwell

Tuesday 13 February 2018

All14:2014:5515:2516:0016:3017:00

Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 3m 44.05s

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(3)

Mixboy⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 88| D

6/1

Better known as a chaser (won last time out over fences), he is a dual Flat winner having won twice at the back-end of last year. Yard do well here but this is his first try on the surface and his only other AW run was a disappointing effort.

Form: 1516-

(5)

St Mary's¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 88| D

5/1

Useful mare who proved herself in good form on turf last year when winning three times and her most recent two starts on the AW have hinted that she may be on her way back in handicaps. Yet to run here though and has to prove herself on this surface with the trip no problem.

Form: 2164-62

(1)

Swashbuckle³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: P Hanagan| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 88

12/1

Formerly with Andrew Balding on the Flat he's since gone hurdling for his current yard (yet to win over obstacles) and now returns to the level. No form on this surface and it remains to be seen how he acts on it off a mark he should be capable of winning off.

Form: 371960-

(6)

Vettori Rules^t1¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Jason Watson⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 86| D

20/1

Tongue-tie goes on for the first time as he's also gets his initial try on Fibresand. Managed to end a long losing run when making all at Chelmsford at the start of the year but has run poorly twice since and sire has a very modest record here.

Form: 803-106

(8)

Coeur de Lion⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A King| OR: 83| BF| D

5/2

Proved himself to be a useful handicapper on the Flat last season and although his recent hurdles form hasn't been up to his previous level he's of interest back on the Flat. Has won over this trip on turf although the unknown here would be the surface.

Form: 532/123-

(2)

Galileo's Spear³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 80

10/1

One of the few who have experienced this surface finishing 4th here on his stable/Fibresand debut over 1m4f. That run looked very much a fact finding mission (started 33/1) and he was dropped 4lb and now goes up 4f in trip.

Form: 6/4076-4

(4)

Serenity Now^p³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 8-12| J: S Donohoe| T: B Ellison| OR: 74| CD

10/3

Needs very little introduction around here having won here four times in total although never in this sort of grade. Back down to his last winning mark on his penultimate run to end a long losing run and followed up last time; will stay this trip but faces a tough test here.

Form: 89441-1

(7)

Epitaph^b¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: A Mullen| T: M Appleby| OR: 73| C

13/2

Has shown some consistent form here despite only registering the one win, that victory coming over 1m4f off a mark of 69. Has looked held by the handicapper since and produced a laboured effort last time out; now tries a new trip.

Form: 23-5125

Forecasts

Coeur de Lion (5/2), Serenity Now (10/3), St Mary's (5/1), Mixboy (6/1), Epitaph (13/2), Galileo's Spear (10/1), Swashbuckle (12/1), Vettori Rules (20/1)

With not much Fibresand form to go this looks a difficult contest to weigh up although Coeur De Lion was progressive on the Flat last year he’s never run here and at the likely prices he’s short enough to pass by here. Both St Mary’s and MIXBOY are in the same boat although the latter of that duo comes from a yard that know the time of day with their runners on this surface and he’ll be fit having won over fences recently. Serenity Now won’t have any problems with the surface but this is a little tougher than his last two starts and wins here while Swashbuckle is another who should enjoy the trip but doesn’t have any form on Fibresand.