13:50 Southwell

Tuesday 5 December 2017

All12:2012:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:20

Happy Birthday Andy Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 6m 14.07s

Skipthecuddles³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 135| BF

10/1

Improved last season, picking up a Wetherby novices' hurdle (2m5½f) on route to a 14L eighth behind Willoughby Court in the Grade 1 Neptune Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham. Pulled up from 1lb higher on reappearance so a little to prove now.

Form: 42180-P

Zero Grand²⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Farrelly| OR: 134

7/1

Chasing a hat-trick after success at both Exeter (2m7f) and then last time back in novices' company at Hereford (3m1½f). Yet to race on good ground and up 7lb for this return to handicaps/reappearance, but clearly has to be considered.

Form: 3/44411-

Tara View²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 132

12/1

Progressive in mares' company in 2016/17, winning a bumper and three hurdles at up to 2m5f. Another good effort in the mares' final at Newbury in March, though failed to complete on reappearance from today's mark and needs to come back from that.

Form: 11114-P

Nautical Nitwit²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 132| CD

12/1

Consistent stayer over hurdles and won over C&D in February from 3lb lower than today. Has since put in some good efforts in defeat from around this mark. A little more needed to win again, but can be competitive back in this grade.

Form: 0-34336

Some Kinda Lama^p,t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: N D Fehily| T: C J Mann| OR: 131

10/1

Enjoyed a good autumn/winter last season, when he proved that he stays 3m1½f on good ground. Unable to better that over fences on last two runs and now reverts to hurdles on a mark from which he can get involved, though needs a bit of improvement.

Form: 1122-57

Mon Palois³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 128| D

7/1

Won 2-3 last season and returned with a 21L win in a Worcester match in October. Probably bettered that despite 19½L defeat in better company at Cheltenham last time and goes handicapping from a mark that he may still be able to exploit.

Form: 114-114

No Planning¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 127| BF| D

12/1

Had a rare recent hurdles run at Wetherby (3m, good) in October, though beaten 38L. Now 6lb lower and since well held/pulled up in a couple of chases. Seven of his eight wins have been from this mark or higher, so can't be ruled out if at his best.

Form: 16-268P

Rolling Maul^b¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 126| D

20/1

3lb lower than his last hurdles success in June 2016 at Worcester (2m7f, good). Has since been in good form on the Flat and tried in higher company than this back over hurdles. A repeat of his Cheltenham run from October would put him in the mix.

Form: 52-4597

Bobo Mac²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: T Symonds| OR: 123| C

14/1

Won a maiden hurdle (2m4½f, soft) here in March, but unable to step up on that in handicaps on two runs since a summer break. Hinted at a return to better last time and a 2lb drop will help. Each-way claims.

Form: 3221-84

Raz De Maree³⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-13| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 122| D

10/1

Has three 'Nationals' to his name, so stamina very much this old boy's forte. Runner-up in latest renewal of the Cork version last time from 16lb higher than this hurdles mark, but this is tough judged on his last hurdles run at Thurles in March.

Form: 2UP0-F2

Ganbei^t²²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Bannister| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 122| D

5/1

Gets on well with this pilot and the combination is seeking a hat-trick here after chase wins at Market Rasen and Bangor (both 3m, good) in the spring. Fitness to prove as well as his ability to handle this 2lb higher mark back over hurdles.

Form: 477711-

Red Rising²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 120| BF| D

9/2

Debut winner at Catterick in February (3m1½f, soft) and returned with a respectable run, albeit not as good, on his handicap intro at Chepstow. Something to build on from same mark here if he goes on good ground (was taken out at Fontwell in April).

Form: 81/1-3

Linguine^b³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Harry Teal⁽⁷⁾| T: S Durack| OR: 117

16/1

Raised 3lb going into this despite a 37L defeat at Uttoxeter last time, though had gone much better from the same 3lb lower mark the time before at Plumpton (3m1f, good to soft). Each-way squeak if back in that sort of form today.

Form: 0-36425

Forecasts

Red Rising (9/2), Ganbei (5/1), Mon Palois (7/1), Zero Grand (7/1), Raz De Maree (10/1), Skipthecuddles (10/1), Some Kinda Lama (10/1), Tara View (12/1), No Planning (12/1), Nautical Nitwit (12/1), Bobo Mac (14/1), Linguine (16/1), Rolling Maul (20/1)

Competitive fayre and Skipthecuddles is undoubtedly the class horse in the field if he can get back on track after a disappointing reappearance run. Back on song, he would very much be feared, though the suggestion is the unexposed RED RISING. Dan Skelton's runners continue to show good form and this eyecatching novices' winner from last season surely has more to come than he showed on his reappearance. Rolling Maul will find this company less taxing than some recent runs and this hardy perennial could be thereabouts again, while Mon Palois, Zero Grand and Nautical Nitwit are others to consider.