19:25 Southwell

Friday 20 April 2018

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

mintbet.com Free Bets For Life Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:25 | Winning time: 5m 11.20s

Cosmic King^h³⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 105

7/4

Showed a glimmer of ability in one of his four hurdles runs for Richard Phillips last season. Not seen since May and now starts for this trainer from a mark 6lb lower than his original assessment. Would be interesting if supported.

Form: 27756-7

Bardista^t1⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 105

10/1

Best effort over hurdles so far was over a similar trip at Newbury (soft) in December.. Well beaten in both handicap runs since. Comes into this with 5lb drop and tongue strap now fitted and a better effort would not surprise.

Form: P40606

Lord Getaway⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Benjamin Poste| T: H J Evans| OR: 105

25/1

Point-to-point winner who handles cut in the ground. Well held in all three hurdles starts so far. Initial handicap marks looks stiff enough on that evidence and he is probably best watched.

Form: 439860

Oregon Gold⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: N Kent| OR: 105

33/1

Best hurdles run was on his debut in this sphere at Bangor (2m½f, good) in October. Was posting a similar effort when falling at Catterick (3m1½f) in December but well held last time and looks in need of help from the handicapper.

Form: 6467F7

Mamoo^p¹⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Teal⁽⁷⁾| T: N B King| OR: 104| BF| D

10/1

Sole win came over hurdles at Fakenham (2m4f, soft) in December from just 1lb lower. Comfortably accounted for over further after just a 3lb rise next time and heavy ground may have been an excuse last time. Claims if he can bounce back.

Form: 354173

Buckby Boy¹³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 103

9/2

Has posted three similar efforts over hurdles so far from 2m-2m3½f. Yet to get competitive, however and this initial handicap mark looks to be no 'gimme' on that evidence.

Form: 4-7764

Biscuit^t¹²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: M Hamill⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 102

14/1

Ran well enough for a long way over 1m7½f (good) at Towcester's stiff circuit in November. That was in a maiden hurdle and she didn't back up it up 2m3½f next time. This slightly better ground may help though her mark looks tough enough.

Form: 243-P68

Oscar Bravo^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 99

33/1

Made the frame in a Stratford bumper two years ago (good to firm) but has been unable to return to that level of form since. Initial mark would be reasonable if he could repeat that bumper run and this longer trip could help him do so.

Form: 7/38-007

Franz Klammer¹²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Charlie Davies⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 97

25/1

Had a chance of making the frame on his handicap debut here over C&D in November but unseated late on that day. Couldn't back up that promise last time but if this slightly better ground helps he is not badly treated and 10lb claim is a plus

Form: 9P-65U8

Shiroccodee⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 95

50/1

Modest level of form in bumpers and over hurdles so far and handicapper looks to be asking plenty of her on the evidence of that. Looks best watched again here.

Form: 4-886P0

Western Morning^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ross Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 93

10/1

Beat his two rivals in a maiden open point-to-point a year ago. Although beaten 14½L, his Haydock run on heavy ground in January was decent in the context of this race. 3lb drop and less testing ground should help and he could go well.

Form: 1-07993

Earcomestom^h²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Pritchard| OR: 91

66/1

Has shown very little in three starts over hurdles today and, like many of these, makes is handicap debut this time. Not easy to enthuse about his chance from this mark.

Form: 008796

Nicheinthemarket⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁵⁾| T: C Fryer| OR: 91

66/1

Pulled up last time out on her handicap debut and now dropped 5lb as a result. Wouldn't be a million miles out of this based on her Fakenham and Towcester runs earlier in the campaign, however and her chance is respected.

Form: 4-5406P

Bentons Lad^p²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Miss E Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 89

15/2

0-16 under National Hunt rules and back up 1lb today after a 3L fourth at Market Rasen (2m4½f, good to soft) last month. Not ruled out of the frame.

Form: 2-355P4

Forecasts

Cosmic King (7/4), Buckby Boy (9/2), Bentons Lad (15/2), Western Morning (10/1), Mamoo (10/1), Bardista (10/1), Biscuit (14/1), Lord Getaway (25/1), Franz Klammer (25/1), Oscar Bravo (33/1), Oregon Gold (33/1), Shiroccodee (50/1), Nicheinthemarket (66/1), Earcomestom (66/1)

A race that should not take a whole lot of winning though at the same time it is not one to be dogmatic about with plenty of them seeing handicap action for the first time. Cosmic King would be very interesting if supported and Bardista is probably capable of better this time, with both Mamoo and Oscar Bravo others of interest. Nicheinthemarket has enough form on the board to suggest that she could make an impact and Western Morning is also considered but the suggestion is FRANZ KLAMMER, who ran well until unseating here earlier in the season and his a useful 10lb claim might help tip the scales in his favour.