Betway Handicap

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 58.42s

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(2)

Foolaad^t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: S R Bowring| OR: 86| CD

9/2

Prolific over C&D between Dec 2017 and Feb 2018 (four straight wins); didn't enjoy the most productive of seasons on turf last summer after finishing a close second to Copper Knight at York (5f, Cl 2) in May; well handicapped off a mark of 86.

Form: 780505-

(3)

Moonraker³^{(ex 4)}

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: B A Curtis| T: M Appleby| OR: 81| CD

15/8

Edged out Watchable when landing this race from a 1lb higher mark 12 months ago; has worked his way back to form lately, striking decisively over C&D on Sunday (beat Awsaaf by 2L); a major player under an incurred 4lb penalty.

Form: 069941-

(5)

Hart Stopper^t⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Hayley Turner| T: S C Williams| OR: 84

7/1

6-29 career, with the bulk of those successes coming on straight tracks at Haydock and Yarmouth; hasn't raced over 5f (or at Southwell) since April 2017; 3lb higher than when beaten a closing neck by Ginger Fox at Kempton (6f) latest.

Form: 214232-

(7)

Airshow¹³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 83

20/1

With Rod Millman when rattling the crossbar (caught on the post) over 6f at Kempton in September 2018; 0-4 since joining Mick Appleby for 42,000gns; first start for 134 days; stablemate of Moonraker.

Form: 72/3046-

(6)

Shamshon²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Hart| T: S C Williams| OR: 83| D

16/1

13-74 career (all wins at 5f-5½f); 2lb higher than when nailing Pink Flamingo on the line at Leicester (5f, good to firm) in September; out of his depth in stronger Class 2 handicaps since; unproven on Fibresand; stablemate of Hart Stopper.

Form: 074109-

(1)

Samovar^b³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon| OR: 79| CD

6/1

Southwell regular (C&D form figures since May 2019 read 1380122235); 4lb higher than when gamely beating Rock Sound by a neck at odds of 33-1 over 6f here in early December; dwelt and soon beaten behind Moonraker on Sunday.

Form: 822135-

(4)

Spirited Guest³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: L Morris| T: G G Margarson| OR: 77| BF| D

7/2

Progressive, boasting a 40% AW strike-rate (2-5), although he's yet to sample the delights of the Fibresand at Southwell; 3lb higher than when finishing with a late thrust to beat Nampara by a neck at Chelmsford (5f) in November.

Form: 321313-

Forecasts

Moonraker (15/8), Spirited Guest (7/2), Foolaad (9/2), Samovar (6/1), Hart Stopper (7/1), Shamshon (16/1), Airshow (20/1)

Spirited Guest continues on the upgrade for George Margarson and was arguably a shade unlucky at Lingfield (6f). However, he's untested on the Fibresand at Southwell where previous experience counts for plenty. Foolaad must be feared as a prolific C&D winner. He is extremely well handicapped from a mark of 86 (runner-up off 98 at York in May 2019). Nevertheless, the selection MOONRAKER finished just ahead of him on his penultimate start before striking for Ben Curtis here on Sunday. Ridden clear to see off Awsaaf by a widening 2L he's fancied to double up under an incurred 4lb penalty, for back-to-back wins in this contest.