14:40 Southwell

Monday 20 March 2017

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:40

Bloomfields Horseboxes Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:42 | Winning time: 5m 39.22s

Dursey Sound¹⁰³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 118

25/1

Not the most straightforward of horses but is capable off this mark if in the mood. Runs off 1lb higher mark than his Hexham win in September and not knocked about last time out on ground that would have been too soft.

Form: 1P5P68-

Milgen Bay⁸²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁷⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 118

11/1

Bounced back to his best when winning at Towcester in November off a 3lb lower mark. Hasn't looked the same in two starts since though and folded up very quickly last time out.

Form: 331P95

Agincourt Reef^p¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Teal⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Teal| OR: 113

7/2

Not run over fences since last year when he looked fairly unenthusiastic about the whole experience. Has bounced back to form though for this yard over hurdles winning twice but has looked awkward again on his last two starts and not sure what to expect here on his return to fences.

Form: 166193-

Johns Luck^b¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Reed⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 111

11/4

Running very well of late and has won at Ffos Las and Plumpton off lower marks but still looks as though he can be competitive off this one. Better than the bare result last time out when outstayed at Ffos Las and remains one to be interested in here.

Form: 2132-51

Little Jimmy^p,t¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: T R Gretton| OR: 106

10/1

Switches back to fences after running a reasonable race at Sandown last time over hurdles in an amateur riders' race. Often travels strongly over fences only to find very little at the business end of the race and that has been very much the pattern of late.

Form: 5/49244-

Thoonavolla²¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: S Bowen| T: T H Weston| OR: 105

3/1

Successful in this race last year off a mark of 94 the first of his two chasing wins he managed to follow-up off a mark of 98 at Worcester. Won over hurdles in May at the same venue but has been pulled-up in his only chase start since and comes here off a long absence this time around.

Form: 114P32-

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 15p in the pound

Non-Runners

Mister Grez⁴⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 11

T: D Skelton J: Bridget Andrews

Ballycoe²³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: C Gordon J: Tom Cannon

Forecasts

Johns Luck (11/4), Ballycoe (11/4), Thoonavolla (3/1), Agincourt Reef (7/2), Mister Grez (11/2), Little Jimmy (10/1), Milgen Bay (11/1), Dursey Sound (25/1)

A few in this who could well bounce back to form given the likely better underfoot surface like Dursey Sound and Milgen Bay both of whom have disappointed of late. Last year’s winner Thoonavolla also needs a second look although he hasn’t had a run for a while and comes here off a higher mark. Mister Grez would have a chance if he repeated his form of last time and this time of the year suits Ballycoe (his stable are also in form). It’s hard to ignore the claims of JOHNS LUCK though despite his defeat last time out he remains in form and is the most consistent of this bunch.