17:00 Southwell

Sunday 15 July 2018

All14:2014:5015:2515:5516:3017:0017:35

mintbet.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 6m 16.8s

Charlie Cook²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 102

15/2

Yet to convince that 3m is his trip and has been beaten a long way in both starts since returning from a year on the sidelines. Dropping down the handicap and eased in grade but more needed.

Form: 2P72/6-7

Rough Justice²³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 100| D

50/1

Chaser who won four starts ago at Market Rasen then ran three very poor races. Returns from eight-month break and switches to timber. Fairly handicapped on best of old form for Willie Mullins but concerns linger.

Form: P4145P-

Flying Verse^p,t1³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: David Bass| T: David Dennis| OR: 99| CD

6/1

Broke his duck when scoring comfortably here over C&D in May but looked to have his quirks when downing tools at Worcester last time. Worth another try here though with first-time cheekpieces applied and should be thereabouts.

Form: 856-U17

West To Crossgales²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: A Pogson| T: C T Pogson| OR: 89| D

11/2

Runner-up here over 2m4f in May then only narrowly beaten at Fakenham before appeared not to stay here last time over this trip. Has stamina to prove and others make more appeal.

Form: 5P-3225

Monty Massini²⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 85

12/1

Yet to reach a place so far in five outings and looks to have a touch of the slows. Eased 2lb since last effort when tailed off but hard to imagine that being enough to make a real difference.

Form: 67558-

Ring Eye²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: S-J Davies| OR: 80

4/1

Ran best race for a couple of years when narrowly outpointed here over C&D last time having led at the last. 6lb higher now, but in a modest race has to have a proper shout.

Form: 987-B42

Beautiful People^t²⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: R Johnson| T: R T Phillips| OR: 79

11/2

Still a maiden after 19 attempts but has hinted more than once that she could be up to winning a race of this nature. Richard Johnson takes over now and that might be enough to put her very much into the reckoning.

Form: 383565-

The Lion Man^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: J M Quinlan| T: R Dickin| OR: 78| CD

9/2

Only career success came here over this trip two starts ago when battling on well to score a neck success. Not so good at Uttoxeter last month but return to happy hunting ground may spark a revival.

Form: 4F8-217

Fled Or Pled^p,h,t⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 75| DWS

12/1

Two career wins have come at Towcester. has run poorly in two starts for current yard and returns now form wind surgery. Nicely handicapped on best of old form but hard to know if ability remains. Worth a market check.

Form: F5649-P

Copt Hill^v1⁵⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 69WS

25/1

Just 1-47, that win coming in heavy ground at Sedgefield in January 2013. Ran fair race when thrid last time at Hexham in May and returns now from wind surgery. Place propsects at best.

Form: 07463-3

Forecasts

Ring Eye (4/1), The Lion Man (9/2), Beautiful People (11/2), West To Crossgales (11/2), Flying Verse (6/1), Charlie Cook (15/2), Monty Massini (12/1), Fled Or Pled (12/1), Copt Hill (25/1), Rough Justice (50/1)

Most of these have been struggling for form or are inconsistent, so a tentative vote goes to RING EYE who was runner-up here last time out and should go close with a similar effort. Flying Verse won here two starts back then looked decidely roguish at Worcester but the return to this venue may suit, and a similar comment re the track applies to The Lion Man. The jockey booking catches the eye on Beautiful People, while the drop in grade may aid top weight Charlie Cook.