14:50 Southwell

Tuesday 5 December 2017

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

Shawthing Racing Partnership Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 20.5s

Busy Baro^h⁶⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: P E Cowley| OR: 97

16/1

Has not seen much action for his age and arrives here on a fair mark from what we have seen of him over hurdles so far. Handicap debut stepped up in trip and a market check is suggested.

Form: 08545/

Yasir¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: N P Madden| T: C R Dore| OR: 96

9/4

Going back in the right direction over hurdles in his last two starts, winning at Uttoxeter and then beaten just 1½L back there last time from 7lb higher. Another 4lb to contend with here and probably vulnerable.

Form: 53P/0-12

Mr Banks^v1⁵⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: R P McLernon| T: P R Webber| OR: 94

7/1

Made frame in a bumper and a maiden hurdle, the latter when he was last seen in April 2016 (2m5f, good to soft). Mark certainly looks attractive based on that effort for handicap debut in first-time visor. Market check needed after long absence.

Form: 43853/

Sauvignon³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 90

10/3

Ran well over C&D (soft) in March when runner-up from a mark of 84. Held on both starts on good ground since, which has to be a concern. 6lb higher today and ran reasonably well on reappearance, which she may have needed, so enters calculations.

Form: 70926-4

Windy Writer^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: David England| T: S England| OR: 86

13/2

0-16 under rules and has made the frame just once, which was here in a 1m7½f novices hurdle last year. Was going okay when hampered and then beaten 18L here last time. 3lb drop will help and could get involved.

Form: 656-P05

Rif Raftou^h1³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 85

8/1

Goes well on a sound surface and was beaten 5L from 4lb higher over this trip at Worcester in the summer. Claims if she can get back to that form now hood fitted for the first-time.

Form: 0-32530

Rock N'stones^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Miss E Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 83

25/1

Put up three very respectable efforts in low grade handicaps in the spring when with Mark Walford, though unable to win. Out of sorts in his last three runs, including two for this trainer. Bit to prove but looks well treated if he can bounce back.

Form: 335P9P

Scartare²⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 82

14/1

Yet to make the frame from seven starts over hurdles and has been well beaten or pulled up in three of those here. Mark slipping to a very workable one but would like to see more from him before he can be recommended.

Form: 9/5776P-

Golden Jet^b1¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Miss Gina Andrews⁽³⁾| T: C Hobson| OR: 79

33/1

Beaten a cumulative 227L in his three completed hurdles starts and pulled up last time when tried over 3m1f. Blinkers now fitted, but they will need to be a virtual miracle cure if he is to oblige this time. Others readily preferred.

Form: PP-600P

The Batham Boy²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: L Heard| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 93

14/1

Well beaten in all three tries over hurdles and this initial handicap mark look stiff enough based on his performances. Probably wants a more thorough test too, so looks one to watch again this time.

Form: 546

Distant Sound^b¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: M Hamill⁽⁵⁾| T: A Wintle| OR: 74

20/1

Has won just one of his 34 hurdles and pulled up on both starts this term. Has dropped to a career-low mark now, which would give him a shout based on his Towcester third back in March, but has plenty to prove at present.

Form: F30-4PP

Dougalstar^p⁷¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Candlish| OR: 64

25/1

21-race maiden who was pulled up over fences when we last saw her in December 2015. Returns over hurdles from the same mark, which leaves her 7lb out of the handicap and a watching brief looks the safest advice.

Form: 53550P/

Forecasts

Yasir (9/4), Sauvignon (10/3), Windy Writer (13/2), Mr Banks (7/1), Rif Raftou (8/1), Scartare (14/1), The Batham Boy (14/1), Busy Baro (16/1), Distant Sound (20/1), Rock N'stones (25/1), Dougalstar (25/1), Golden Jet (33/1)

Busy Baro may have top weight, but this won't take much winning and his mark is still a handy one based on his form to date. He could go well here, while Windy Writer is another who might take much closer order after a promising effort last time. Yasir is creeping up in the weights, but should be involved again, while Rif Raftou can't be ruled out if the hood sparks a revival. Mr Banks merits a market check after a lengthy absence, as his form makes today's mark look fairly attractive, but the vote goes to SAUVIGNON, whose reappearance run should have her straight enough this time, provided she can act on this faster ground.