16:40 Southwell

Sunday 26 February 2017

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:10

Rabi Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:43 | Winning time: 6m 38.10s

Riddlestown^b⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: R Patrick⁽⁷⁾| T: C Fryer| OR: 102

7/1

All four career wins have come at this venue, though at trips up to around 2m4f. Has run well at this trip in defeat, however and has dropped to the same mark as when scoring here in March. Considered.

Form: 16311-1

Part And Parcel^t1⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: T E Whelan| T: H James| OR: 100

100/1

Dual point-to-point scorer, though 0-8 in bumpers and hurdles so far, including sound beatings in both handicap hurdles this winter. Return to 3m a potential positive, as is headgear.

Form: 3P0P3P

Red Admirable^p,t²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 98

9/2

Has returned from chasing after falling at Ludlow in October, though not yet shown anything back over hurdles. Bit to prove now especially after failing to complete last time.

Form: P3-PF44

Chankillo^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Aidan Coleman| T: S-J Davies| OR: 97

10/1

Hard to fancy a runner who is 0-23 over hurdles, even in this poor contest, though optimists will cite his decent Bangor effort in December when making the frame from a 2lb lower mark.

Form: 353P52-

Classico Dais^p²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 93

9/2

First-time cheekpieces failed to have the desired effect on him when well beaten on his handicap debut over 3m2f here last time. Drop in trip may be a positive and it would be unlike his trainer not to be able to exploit a mark like this. Market check advised.

Form: 80

Optical High^p1⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: James Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: A Forbes| OR: 90

25/1

Sole success when with Sue Smith was on heavy ground, though career profile has him 1-18 over hurdles. Ran well from this mark in defeat at Sedgefield this time last year. Could be freshened up by a change of yard and first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 1625P-U

Scartare²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Benjamin Poste⁽³⁾| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 89

9/1

It has taken a while, but there has been steady improvement in both a maiden hurdle at Towcester in December and then on his handicap debut back there (2m3f, heavy) earlier in the month. A 4lb drop will also assist and could do better again.

Form: 79/49-57

Boher Lad²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Stan Sheppard⁽⁵⁾| T: A Phillips| OR: 88

11/4

Won a Ludlow handicap hurdle off a mark of 80 (3m, soft) earlier in the season and runner-up twice since, so reasonably consistent. Another good effort from today's mark last time and more likely than some to run his race.

Form: 72412F

Mahler Bay⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Thomas Dowson⁽⁵⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 87

16/1

Showed some promise over hurdles last spring, though recent runs for current yard leave plenty to be desired. 5lb drop unlikely to have any effect on that evidence.

Form: 3P00P3-

Lord Landen^p,t²³

Age: 12| Weight: 10-13| J: Conor Shoemark| T: F O'Brien| OR: 87

14/1

15lb lower than his last winning mark, a Cheltenham handicap chase in December 2015 (2m5f, heavy). Best form over shorter than this and readily taken on judged on his run at Catterick over 3m1f last time.

Form: 47934-1

Bus Named Desire^p,t⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr Ed Bailey⁽⁷⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 85

40/1

Same mark today at when winning a Taunton chase in 2015, but pulled up all four starts this term and impossible to recommend at present.

Form: 12P-PPP

Foot The Bill²³

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: J Kington⁽³⁾| T: P Holmes| OR: 73

14/1

Only 1-16 over hurdles and most recent wins have been over fences, though now 14lb lower than the last of those. Slammed in all six starts this season and hard to envisage a return to form today from out of the handicap.

Form: 52-76P7

Non-Runners

Cheltenam De Vaige³⁵

Weight: 11-8| Age: 5

T: G R I Smyly J: Mr Zac Baker

Forecasts

Boher Lad (11/4), Classico Dais (9/2), Red Admirable (9/2), Cheltenam De Vaige (6/1), Riddlestown (7/1), Scartare (9/1), Chankillo (10/1), Foot The Bill (14/1), Lord Landen (14/1), Mahler Bay (16/1), Optical High (25/1), Bus Named Desire (40/1), Part And Parcel (100/1)

A very mediocre affair and BOHER LAD can be trusted more than most to run his race, so he gets the vote. Optical High could improve for the fitting of cheekpieces and make the frame, while Cheltenam De Vaige is another such player. A market check is advised regarding Classico Dais, who could turn out to be a fair bit better than his current mark. 1. Boher Lad 2. Optical High 3. Cheltenam De Vaige