15:40 Southwell

Tuesday 31 January 2017

All13:0013:3014:0014:3515:1015:4016:10

Follow At The Races On Instagram Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 40.70s

Lady Buttons⁸^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 106

5/4

Was a very easy winner at Newcastle and turns out here under the mandatory penalty; she has plenty of scope and this looks a logical step to try and strike whilst she is in top form.

Form: P/P3111

Mahlers Star^t1⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 109

12/1

Wears a tongue tie for the first time and will be better suited if the ground dries out. Cautionary note that he took a tired fall last time but has been given plenty of time to get over anything which may have troubled him.

Form: 302F92-

Steel City^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: J McGrath| T: J W Mullins| OR: 109

20/1

Steps up to a trip that may just about be his limit. Others look to have more solid claims.

Form: 388357-

Western Breeze³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Jake Greenall| T: M Walford| OR: 108

25/1

Has won at this course but hard to fancy a repeat dose being dished out after failing to complete the last twice.

Form: 21U22-P

Spyder⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Kielan Woods| T: Tracey Leeson| OR: 108

100/1

Didn't really show much on his reappearance after a long spell on the sidelines and now has something to prove.

Form: 4/5P875-

Amantius^b⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Farrelly| OR: 107

11/2

Chases the three-timer after wins at Leicester and Wincanton justified his connections' decision to revert to hurdles; an 11lb hike in the weights does make life tougher this time around though and it remains to be seen if he can cope with the slightly stiffer calibre of opponent.

Form: 504/621

Alfred Roller³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 107

20/1

Represents a top yard and is an interesting one to note for a similar race, one to bear in mind if he attracts significant support.

Form: 3-8750

Grey Life^p1,t1²³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: Laura Morgan| OR: 105

66/1

Yet to win at this trip and has a few too many chinks in the armour to confidently recommend this time around.

Form: 7/12633-

Malapie⁶³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: A Pogson| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 105

16/1

Only seen the racecourse three times and brought down when running okay at Worcester when last seen. Has another substantial break to return from now though and market likely to reveal expectations after such a lengthy lay-off.

Form: 21F/B-21

The Wexfordian^p⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: M Keighley| OR: 104

25/1

Well beaten in a couple of chases last spring and subsequently successful when switched back to pointing on fast ground two starts back. Likely to need a fair bit more than that today and disappointed at Leicester last time.

Form: 164222

Riddlestown^b¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Quinlan| T: C Fryer| OR: 104

33/1

Last three wins have all come over C&D and has won four times around here in total. Dropped to just 2lb above his highest winning mark now and switch back to hurdles should be taken as a positive. Each-Way player.

Form: 16311-1

Straits Of Messina²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Benjamin Poste⁽³⁾| T: T Symonds| OR: 103

9/1

Hit a good run of form before a lengthy absence. Still fairly low mileage for his age and ran a fine race on comeback at Bangor before producing a similar effort at Fontwell last time finishing third of 11. The more galloping nature of this track ought to help him but he hasn't run well at previous attempts over this distance.

Form: 21/2300-

Baroque Style⁶⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: R T Dunne| T: D Burchell| OR: 102

25/1

Unplaced on last six starts and didn't show a great deal on debut for this yard. 7lb above only winning mark and hard to fancy all things considered.

Form: P4-95U0

Squeeze Me¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 100

100/1

Form of latest Cartmel win not working out particularly well and showed little encouragement on comeback run at Market Rasen, finishing tailed off. Best performances have come on summer ground and may well do better in the summer.

Form: 6P6353-

Dragon De La Tour¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 97

7/1

Unplaced on five starts to date but showed plenty more last time. Less exposed than plenty of these and learning all the time so may be able to do better stepped back up in trip.

Form: 69/4342-

Non-Runners

Nightfly²⁷

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: C E Longsdon J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

Lady Buttons (5/4), Amantius (11/2), Dragon De La Tour (7/1), Nightfly (8/1), Straits Of Messina (9/1), Mahlers Star (12/1), Malapie (16/1), Alfred Roller (20/1), Steel City (20/1), The Wexfordian (25/1), Baroque Style (25/1), Western Breeze (25/1), Riddlestown (33/1), Grey Life (66/1), Squeeze Me (100/1), Spyder (100/1)

LADY BUTTONS won as she liked at Newcastle and looks a reformed character this season. She trounced a similar calibre of opponent at Gosforth Park and it’s very reasonable to assume she is capable of a bold show despite being set to carry 7lb extra this time around. Stepping up in trip is a slight concern, but this really does lack strength in-depth and her connections appear to have found a weak opening for her to follow up. Riddlestown loves his racing at Southwell and has to be considered as major threat on these terms. That said, he does need to post a career best effort, as he races from a 2lb higher mark than for the latest of his four previous course wins. Alfred Roller is also worthy of consideration, as he is open to improvement over the trip makes his handicap debut on a very lenient mark; while Dragon De La Tour may also appreciate this more demanding test of stamina and, from the foot of the weights, appeals as sporting option for a place in the frame 1. Lady Buttons 2. Riddlestown 3. Alfred Roller