18:55 Southwell

Friday 20 April 2018

All16:5017:2517:5518:2518:5519:2519:55

mintbet.com The Home Of Refreshing Odds Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:56 | Winning time: 3m 51.10s

Jaunty Thor¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Robert Hawker⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 105| CD

14/1

Has been in-and-out since returning from a break. Has trip and ground to his liking here though a 3lb rise for his latest 3½L defeat won't make his bid to end an 11-race losing sequence any easier.

Form: 3624P2

Stuccodor^v⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: C R Dore| OR: 103| CD

25/1

Won a selling handicap hurdle over C&D (soft) in February from 7lb lower and went close in an AW seller (1m4f) here on first start for this trainer next time. Bettered that at Lingfield last time and now reverts to hurdles and is not ruled out.

Form: 537441

Jack Bear⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Teal⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Teal| OR: 103| BF

22/1

Well beaten in both handicaps over hurdles so far and has dropped 7lb from his initial mark. Not seen since June, so has fitness to prove. Stays 1m6f on the Flat and handles soft ground, so couldn't rule out a better effort after AW win last time.

Form: U35-95

Minella Fiveo⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 102| D

25/1

Three-time hurdle winner from 2m-2m4f on ground from good to firm through to heavy. 6lb lower than the latest of those last season but not been near that level of form this term. Not easy to recommend him at present.

Form: P-964S4

Dr Dunraven^t1⁸⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: M Keighley| OR: 100WS

20/1

0-9 so far under rules. Best effort was when runner-up at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft) over hurdles last May. Well below that level in two starts this season and returns today after wind surgery. On a handy mark if that is that has worked.

Form: 6P4-29P

Sneaking Budge^p⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 100| DWS

6/1

Sole win was at Sandown (2m, heavy) over two years ago. Has been unable to get truly competitive from higher marks this season but is another who now returns post-wind op and if that has worked he is also on a handy mark.

Form: 1/P-4566

Hurricane Rita^b³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Alan Johns| T: C R Dore| OR: 99| D

33/1

Both her wins have been on heavy ground at 2m-2m4½f, the former being the more recent at Fakenham in January from 3lb lower. 6L to find with Stuccudor on their running here in February and looks to have each-way claims.

Form: P13263

Quantum Of Solace^h⁵²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 99| D

11/2

Scored over 2m (good) at Uttoxeter in September 2016 before two abortive attempts over fences. Not seen since November of that year and has since left Martin Keighley for this trainer. Handles this ground and market check advised.

Form: 66314P-

Hear The Chimes²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Benjamin Poste| T: S A Harris| OR: 99| BF| D

10/1

Over two years since he last won over hurdles at Ludlow (2m, soft), when 9lb higher. Has not been at that level in the past two seasons but made the frame from this mark at Market Rasen last time and has each-way claims again.

Form: 243753

Tamarillo Grove^t¹⁷⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr D Skehan⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 98| CD

50/1

Scored at Newtom Abbot (2m1f, good) in August from this mark. Wasn't at that level of form in three subsequent starts and returns from a winter break today. Showed last season that he can go well when fresh so not ruled out.

Form: 2F1500

Dakota Grey¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 97

7/2

Both his wins have been over 2m1f at Carlisle on testing ground and four of his best five runs have been there. Stays 2m5½f and escapes a penalty here after winning a conditionals event last time. Claims if he acts as well around here.

Form: 43F501

Dothraki Raider^t³⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 96

25/1

Sole win was over 2m4f (good) at Fakenham in October 2016. Ran only twice last year, making the frame both times from 2lb higher than today. Has fitness to prove after another year off and looks one to watch today.

Form: 996133-

Petrucci²⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: James Davies| T: D Shaw| OR: 94

25/1

Won a Chelmsford maiden (1m2f, AW) on his second start back in 2015 but is on a 15-race losing run under both codes since. Ran well to make frame from slightly higher marks twice last May. Not seen since June but can go well fresh. Interesting.

Form: 8575-33

Oskar Denarius^h,t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 94| BF

4/1

Won back-to-back races at Catterick and Fontwell in December at 2m3f/2m3½f (inc. on good to soft). Pulled up on only start for this trainer at Warwick last month after a further 9lb rise and has a bit to prove now from the same mark.

Form: 57P11P

Spader^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 94

12/1

Sole win was on the Flat at Navan (1m2f, soft/heavy) when trained by Ger Lyons. Went close for this trainer over hurdles at Kempton last May (2m, good) when 10lb higher but little encouragement just lately.

Form: 2F80P7

Grecian King²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: Laura Morgan| OR: 93

25/1

14-race maiden under both codes. Comfortably the best of his five hurdle runs so far was last time at Musselburgh in February. Nudged up 2lb for that and beaten twice on AW Flat tracks since then, he clearly carries risks.

Form: 70673

Forecasts

Dakota Grey (7/2), Oskar Denarius (4/1), Quantum Of Solace (11/2), Sneaking Budge (6/1), Hear The Chimes (10/1), Spader (12/1), Jaunty Thor (14/1), Dr Dunraven (20/1), Jack Bear (22/1), Minella Fiveo (25/1), Dothraki Raider (25/1), Stuccodor (25/1), Petrucci (25/1), Grecian King (25/1), Hurricane Rita (33/1), Tamarillo Grove (50/1)

Another moderate contest and it might be worth chancing DR DUNRAVEN after a wind operation. If that has worked then he goes into this on a handy enough mark and this is not a strong contest in which to try to shed a maiden tag. Stuccodor has to be respected along with Jack Bear, while Dakota Grey has a fair bit going for him although he has it to prove away from Carlisle and on what is a very different track. Petrucci is another of interest.