Racecards
14:00 Southwell
Helena Bonham Carter Birthday Handicap Chase (Class F) (Class F)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 3m 2f
- Going: Good

- Form 3F51-3B
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey Mr T J Malone
chased leader, led 4th, headed after 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out

- Form 23P/PP-2
- Age 11
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer D Caro
- Jockey R Thornton
led, headed 4th, led again after 5th, headed 7th, soon behind, pulled up before 14th

Braeburn
117- Form PFP/P64-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer R Phillips
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leaders, weakened 11th, behind when pulled up before 14th

- Form 011P30-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Mrs L Williamson
- Jockey M Bradburne
held up mid-division, weakened from 5 out

- Form 525424-
- Age 11
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer R Lee
- Jockey A O'keeffe
held up, headway approaching 13th, ridden 4 out, weakened next

- Form 3252/1-1
- Age 10
- Weight 11-0
held up, good headway to join leader 10th, led approaching 13th, headed approaching 15th, led again after 4 out, ridden approaching last, headed flat, one pace

- Form P035P4-
- Age 14
- Weight 10-9
held up, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, kept on well to lead after last

- Form 643P31-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
in touch, ridden after 4 out, soon no impression

- Form F34P1-P
- Age 10
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer Miss I Craig
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
held up in mid-division, headway to join leaders 8th, ridden and weakened approaching 13th

- Form 1260-40
- Age 12
- Weight 10-3
- Trainer J R Cornwall
- Jockey B Hitchcott
chased leaders, led 7th, headed approaching 13th, soon weakened

Galen (IRE)
64- Form 3F0033-
- Age 13
- Weight 10-3
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey G Carenza
always behind and pushed along, hampered 2nd, tailed off from 9th, pulled up before 14th

- Form 0056P-6
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Mrs P Ford
- Jockey R Young
held up in rear, headway 12th, led approaching 15th, ridden and headed after 4 out, one pace from 2 out
In depth
Verdict
Weaver George gets the vote in the opener with Be The Tops, Palisander and River Trix the best of the remainder. The selection is nearing the veteran stage but he has dropped to a handy mark and he shaped slightly better last time at Carlisle when fourth behind Hallrule on ground that was softer than ideal. This faster surface should suit and he is taken to score on a track where he usually goes well. Be The Tops has the services of AP McCoy and has obvious claims if he can reproduce his recent third behind Sterling Dot Com at Exeter. River Trix is dropped in grade so is another worth serious consideration while Palisander is in good form of late but he is unproven at the trip so is probably best watched on this occasion. Southerndown is another that has tumbled down the handicap so he is potentially well-in, but we are happy to stick with Weaver George as our idea of the winner.