20:05 Southwell

Wednesday 23 May 2018

All17:3518:0518:3519:0519:3520:0520:35

Betting Offers At bettingodds.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:06 | Winning time: 6m 12.1s

Make Me A Fortune^p¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: J McGrath| T: S Gollings| OR: 102

28/1

Going nowhere fast these days and handicap mark starting to fall quickly after some poor efforts over the last eight months. Needs to turn things around, drop in grade may help but comes with too many risks now.

Form: 3F/8PP-9

Boher Lad³⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: A Phillips| OR: 100| CD

10/1

Tries hard but his old legs find winning harder these days, nicely enough handicapped on win here last year but efforts this year leave a bit to be desired. Needs to find best form to get involved in the finish.

Form: 3/45494-

Grey Monk^t,v¹⁹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: Sara Ender| OR: 98| D

50/1

Have to go back a couple of years to find the last time he got his head in front, stuck to the task at Huntingdon last time out but it was still only a moderate effort. Well handicapped if he can bounce back, but that looks unlikely.

Form: 46/5557-

Volcan Surprise^p¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Bridget Andrews| T: C Fryer| OR: 97| D

50/1

Two runs back from a long absence suggest he's in no sort of form and on that alone, he's easy enough to pass over.

Form: 2342/P-P

Witness¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 97| BF| D

14/1

Came good at Wetherby in March (soft ground), winning easily but handicapper gave him a shove up the weights for it, and he found it hard going at Kelso last time. May need more cut to show his best and others make more appeal.

Form: 63461-7

Earcomestom^h¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: P A Pritchard| OR: 91

12/1

Had shown a bit of ability the time before when finishing midfield here so his Uttoxeter second (at 25/1, not totally unfancied) wasn't coming out of the blue. Up 3lb for that but conditions fine, and may improve again. One to be interested in.

Form: 87969-2

Blue Rhythm^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 91

18/1

Early promise seems to be evaporating already and last three efforts (including in a point-to-point) have seen three non-completions. Chance if he can recapture the form that saw him beaten a head over C&D this time last year, but risky now.

Form: 6/42FF-P

Simply Lucky¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 82| D

11/10

Won easily on first start for this yard, coming away under hands and heels for ready success at Towcester a fortnight ago. Upped 10lb for that, but stable still firing winners in for fun and has to be considered a big player once more.

Form: FF541/1

Stonebrigg Legend^p¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 76

9/2

Coming down in the handicap after just a handful of efforts, bit better when in the frame over C&D last time (cheekpieces seemingly helping) but this looks a bit tougher, and places may be the best she can hope for again.

Form: 49377-3

Celestial Chimes²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dickin| OR: 72

25/1

Certainly bred for the job but has only beaten a handful of horses home on eight starts (when she's completed). May do better at some point but guessing when is a game in itself. Best left alone until doing so.

Form: 0F7P5P-

The Lion Man^p¹⁰

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

6/1

No win in 23 starts tells you plenty about his chances, but best effort for a long while when second to an improver over C&D last time. 8lb out of the handicap here and given overall record, no certainty to repeat the dose anyway.

Form: 854F8-2

Forecasts

Simply Lucky (11/10), Stonebrigg Legend (9/2), The Lion Man (6/1), Boher Lad (10/1), Earcomestom (12/1), Witness (14/1), Blue Rhythm (18/1), Celestial Chimes (25/1), Make Me A Fortune (28/1), Volcan Surprise (50/1), Grey Monk (50/1)

Earcomestom travelled nicely throughout his Uttoxeter race but found a Dan Skelton inmate just too good for him, and it could be the same story tonight with SIMPLY LUCKY looking to follow up an easy Towcester win with another. He can score again before the handicapper starts to get a grip of him. The rest look much of a muchness, although Stonebrigg Legend performed better with headgear on last time and might be able to take a share of the money home.