20:00 Southwell

Friday 21 March 2025

All16:5517:2518:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Gamble Responsibly At BetUK Handicap

Off time: 20:00 | Winning time: 3m 47.22s

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Selected odds by:

(3)

Sophar Sogood^b1³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J Butler| OR: 54| CD

16/1

C&D winner. 8/1 and visored for 1st time, respectable 9½ lengths fifth of 11 to Leon Trotsky in handicap at this C&D 35 days ago. Blinkers on 1st time and needs a second look having slipped to a potentially handy mark.

Form: 0639-65

(6)

Balgowan^p³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: George Downing| T: J W Mullins| OR: 53

13/2

Creditable fourth of 8 in handicap at Wolverhampton (14f, 5/1) 31 days ago, not knocked about. Shortlist material.

Form: 53/6-224

(10)

Fiftyshadesaresdev^p,t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Aiden Brookes⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 50

6/1

Remains a maiden after 28 Flat runs. 13/2, good second of 12 in handicap at Newcastle (12.4f) 22 days ago. Significantly up in trip and he's a must for the shortlist.

Form: 6226-32

(1)

Billy Bathgate^h²²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: Jason Hart| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 50

14/1

Hooded for 1st time, eleventh of 12 in handicap at Newcastle (12.4f, 33/1) 22 days ago, not much room. Significantly up in trip and he wouldn't be without a chance if back to something like his best.

Form: 52356-0

(5)

Toby Tops^b,t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: George Wood| T: Dylan Cunha| OR: 53

6/1

16/1 and blinkered for 1st time, sixth of 8 in handicap at Kempton (16f) 23 days ago, slowly away. Something to find on form.

Form: 666-686

(2)

Scylla^b⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Marco Ghiani| T: A W Carroll| OR: 49| D

22/1

Blinkered for 1st time, good third of 10 in handicap at Wolverhampton (14f, 33/1) 9 days ago, slowly away. Couldn't rule out.

Form: 46-5793

(9)

Leon Trotsky³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S M Levey| T: J & S Birkett| OR: 51| CD

11/10

Career best when winning 11-runner handicap at this C&D (4/1) 35 days ago. 4 lb rise fair enough and he should make his presence felt once more.

Form: 673-031

(7)

Ocean Ridge^h³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: R Havlin| T: T Faulkner| OR: 46

8/1

Ninth of 11 in minor event at Wolverhampton (12.2f, 14/1) 39 days ago, slowly away. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 3168-59

(4)

Freewheelin¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Mark Winn| T: J R Norton| OR: 45| CD

40/1

C&D winner. Eighteen runs since last win in 2022. Creditable fourth of 10 in handicap at Newcastle (16.2f, 40/1) 14 days ago. Place possibilities.

Form: 8034-04

(8)

Kitten's Dream^p⁹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: D Swift| T: S Dixon| OR: 45| CD

125/1

Unreliable individual. C&D winner. Thirty-eight runs since last win in 2023. 100/1, last of 10 in handicap at Wolverhampton (14f) 90 days ago. Uphill task.

Form: 608060-

Forecasts

Leon Trotsky (11/10), Toby Tops (6/1), Fiftyshadesaresdev (6/1), Balgowan (13/2), Ocean Ridge (8/1), Billy Bathgate (14/1), Sophar Sogood (16/1), Scylla (22/1), Freewheelin (40/1), Kitten's Dream (125/1)

Supporting 20-race maidens can sometimes be a fool's errand but BALGOWAN has been knocking on the door of late and would've probably gone close but for encountering traffic problems at Wolverhampton last time. He is taken to gain compensation here and, in the process, shed that long-standing maiden tag. Fiftyshadesaresdev also has a serious chance on the back of his solid Newcastle effort and Leon Trotsky, successful over this C&D last month, is another for the shortlist.