20:35 Southwell

Tuesday 5 June 2018

All18:0518:3519:0519:3520:0520:3521:05

NP Services Leicester Limited Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:36 | Winning time: 3m 44.60s

Sword Of Fate¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: N de Boinville| T: T Lacey| OR: 120| CD

7/2

Took his opportunity in a match on chasing debut over C&D last month, but switches back to hurdles now from a tricky looking mark bidding for a first handicap success.

Form: 11970-1

Symphony Of Angels⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 120| CD

15/8

C&D novice winner for Graeme McPherson in June 2017, and also followed up next time at Hexham. Left that trainer since returning from a break in April, but we'll see whether or not he's capable of winning off this mark in a handicap.

Form: 3/21137-

Eureu Du Boulay^t⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Broughton⁽¹⁰⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 120WS

25/1

Soft ground winner in France (2m2f), but has struggled on both starts in the UK, hence his recent wind surgery. The very fact that he's claimer ridden suggests he's probably not well handicapped.

Form: 9521P5-

Oliver's Gold⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Miss E Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 117| CD

7/1

Struck up a good partnership with Emma Todd and came close to following up his C&D chase success when finishing runner up to Stynes at Cartmel latest (2m1f+). More leniently treated over hurdles and rates as a major player.

Form: 376-312

Exitas²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 117| D

10/1

Handicapped out of the equation over fences for now after thriving through the autumn/early winter (2m1f-2m2f), so switched back to hurdles recently from a more favourable mark.

Form: 13824-5

Idder^t1²⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Jack Barber| OR: 113| D

20/1

With James Moffatt when winning at Carlisle in May 2017 (2m1f good), but less competitive thereafter and sold for a nominal fee (£1,000) in January 2018. Tongue-tied for stable debut.

Form: 3/16030-

Stole The Show²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 113| BF

6/1

Idled in front when winning on debut for this trainer at Fontwell in early May (2m3f good), but beaten over a longer trip next time at Wincanton (unpenalised). 3lb higher now; but one to consider over a more suitable trip.

Form: 5/828-14

Joycetick^t²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: J M Quinlan| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 115

50/1

Good ground French hurdles winner who can blow hot and cold, but was in contention when falling two out on his penultimate start (Kempton, 2m good). Current handicap mark looks tricky.

Form: 221PF-7

Ninepointsixthree^p¹⁰³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 112WS

40/1

Consistent since winning a 2m+ soft ground Market Rasen seller on Boxing Day 2017, but most likely looks high in the handicap as a result. Makes his first start in over three months.

Form: 436122-

Stepover^t¹⁸⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 111| CD

16/1

Her course hurdles form makes for pleasant reading (4,5,1,1,2,2) but she's 12lb higher than for her last C&D success in June 2017. Nevertheless, she arrives fresh from a winter break and could have more improvement in her.

Form: 1/01221-

Retrieve^b,t³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: R T Dunne| T: J Farrelly| OR: 110| D

66/1

Useful performer in his pomp, but ageing now and merely a regular on the AW scene. Falling in the weights, but has only run twice over timber since February 2015, so readily opposed.

Form: 6121/60-

Knight Commander²¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 109| D

14/1

Won back-to-back races over hurdles in July 2017 (2m-2m1f good to soft), but those represent his only two career victories in 25 starts. Handicapper reluctant to show too much grace on his first start since November 2017.

Form: 113244-

Forecasts

Symphony Of Angels (15/8), Sword Of Fate (7/2), Stole The Show (6/1), Oliver's Gold (7/1), Exitas (10/1), Knight Commander (14/1), Stepover (16/1), Idder (20/1), Eureu Du Boulay (25/1), Ninepointsixthree (40/1), Joycetick (50/1), Retrieve (66/1)

Competitive, but Oliver's Gold looks to be a major player based upon his solid recent efforts over fences from higher handicap marks and with a fair Hexham hurdles third recorded in early May proving he's versatile over any type of obstacle. Stepover is endeared to Southwell, but she needs a career best back from a winter break if to record a third course success. Therefore, with Dr Richard Newland supplying a steady stream of winners, we'll give STOLE THE SHOW the benefit of the doubt (trip) for his Wincanton 'flop' in the hope that this ex-Irish racer is still feasibly handicapped off a mark of 113.