17:05 Southwell

Sunday 13 May 2018

All14:2515:0015:3016:0516:3517:0517:35

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Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 6m 16.9s

Strawberry Spirit⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-3| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 102

4/1

Looked to improve for the step up in trip last time out when finishing second of 10 beaten ½L when blundering his chance away at the last. Another bold show looks likely.

Form: U4550-2

The Flame^t1⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-3| J: James Nixon⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 102| DWS

9/2

Has produced a number of laboured runs in two handicap hurdle appearances since the turn of the year and first-time tongue tie unlikely to improve performance on first run since wind op.

Form: 2/78368-

Theatre Rouge^h,t1³⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-3| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 102

20/1

Failed to finish her final two races of 2017 following a win at Newton Abbot in April when in the care of Phillip Hobbs. Best watched on return to the track, on stable debut and with first-time tongue-tie.

Form: 8471/PF-

Oregon Gold²³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-3| J: Henry Brooke| T: N Kent| OR: 102

14/1

Races 10lb lower than initial handicap rating in December. Well beaten and never a factor in two starts this year including an 11L defeat here last month. Looks opposable.

Form: 467F78-

St Andrews^v²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: G Boanas| OR: 97

6/1

Left previous trainer Ian Williams for £8,000 in November 2017, and finished a close up fifth on stable debut in a Newcastle Flat handicap in March. Last seen over timber in November and should appreciate the return here.

Form: 8654/33-

Volcan Surprise^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: C Fryer| OR: 97| D

25/1

Modest point-to-point form and pulled up in a Stratford handicap hurdle last month. Has work to do on bare form.

Form: 42342/P-

Improved^p⁴³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 96

25/1

Distance winner who won a Fakenham novice handicap hurdle in February 2017. Hard to construct much of a case for him here being off the track 14 months.

Form: 0P4P16/

Ever So Much^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 96| C

8/1

Won a Sedgefield handicap hurdle last month finishing a neck ahead of Rock Of Leon and 11 rivals over 2m5f. Raised 5lb for his effort and market should be informative.

Form: 653501-

Classula^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: David Noonan| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 94

16/1

Kept on under pressure to regain third in a nine-runner handicap hurdle at Kempton last month on soft ground and has place claims again here.

Form: 0/40093-

Houndscourt^t,v⁵¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny Cook| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 88| CD

10/1

C&D winner here in February of a 5lb lower mark on soft ground beating 13 rivals 4½L. Beaten 44L last time out but could go well back at this track.

Form: 8/P4P14-

Admiral Blake^t¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 82| CD

16/1

C&D winner but losing run now totals 21. Well beaten and never a factor last time out in an Exeter handicap hurdle finishing 43L adrift of Breaking Ground. Plenty to prove in this contest.

Form: 4572F5-

Dudette⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: W T Kennedy| T: A Crook| OR: 80

50/1

Sixth of eight beaten 83L in a Hexham handicap hurdle on heavy ground in March. Hard to construct much of a case for the mare here.

Form: 8/74P46-

Stonebrigg Legend^p1¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 76

13/2

Well beaten in four starts since the turn of the year and others look to be progressing at a quicker rate so needs to up her game in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 3/49377-

The Lion Man^p¹⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: R Dickin| OR: 66

10/1

Had a couple of attempts over fences, but failed to complete on both occasions. Been back over hurdles for his last five starts and comfortably held each time.

Form: F/854F8-

Forecasts

Strawberry Spirit (4/1), The Flame (9/2), St Andrews (6/1), Stonebrigg Legend (13/2), Ever So Much (8/1), The Lion Man (10/1), Houndscourt (10/1), Oregon Gold (14/1), Admiral Blake (16/1), Classula (16/1), Theatre Rouge (20/1), Improved (25/1), Volcan Surprise (25/1), Dudette (50/1)

STRAWBERRY SPIRIT can build on her second place last time out at Warwick going down by ½L to play a major role in this company. Although quirky Ever So Much can continue in the form that saw him win a Sedgefield handicap hurdle last month and, along with solid performer St Andrews can give the selection plenty to think about.